Everton manager Martinez says Atsu has been on his radar since 2011

Published on: 14 August 2014
Everton manager Martinez says Atsu has been on his radar since 2011
Christian Atsu

Christian Atsu first piqued Roberto Martinez's interest when he rose through the ranks at Porto three years ago and the Everton manager says the loan signing will add an extra dimension to his squad.

The 22-year-old passed his medical at Goodison on Wednesday evening to become Everton's fifth signing of the summer, and took to Twitter to post a picture of himself and Martinez.

Martinez said: 'We saw signs of the player that he can be when he was coming through at Porto, and now I'm just so excited to be bringing him to the club.

'Not just as a young man with great potential but already representing Ghana in the World Cup.

'The loan market is what it is, we always want to use that to our advantage. Here again is a really good opportunity to the three parties - the parent club, ourselves and the player.

'I do expect a little bit of an adaptation period. He hasn't played in the Premier League and that always requires that period. The way he played in the World Cup and the way he adapted to the conditions in Brazil, I'm sure it'll be a short period.

'Christian arriving has gave us an extra option, an extra boost in the squad so I would say that everyone is in a position that is ready to help the team.'

And Martinez says it is important that he gets to know the man behind the football, too.

'Christian and I - we had a really good time (on Wednesday) and we shared a lot of football stories, and we've brought the right characters in to the club. When you sign a player, you sign a footballer. It's different to get to know the human being.

'Everyone shares a real hunger and a real desire to give something to the team, and that's exactly what we want.

'Seamus Coleman has been working well - it's too early to know if he'll be available for Saturday (away against Leicester City) but he's training with the team.

'The same has to be said with (Romelu) Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas. They arrived a little later due to World Cup demands.'

Martinez added he did not know where the rumours surrounding the departure of Arouna Kone came from.

Atsu became Everton's fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Lukaku, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and Brendan Galloway.

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