Everton missed out on ‘one of the best players in the world’ thanks to Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez called off Everton’s deal to sign a player who Pep Guardiola has hailed as ‘one of the best players in the world today.’

The player in question - Sporting Lisbon’s Matheus Nunes - was in talks with the Toffees to sign last summer for a relatively measly £20million, according to reports from Portuguese outlet Record.

But Benitez’ arrival lead to the deal being called off after the Spaniard exerted total control over recruitment at the club and did not want a player he had not touted himself.

And now Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed the 23-year-old midfielder as one of the best in the world - albeit after his side thumped them 5-0 in their own ground.

“Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in the world today.” Guardiola said last week.

What could’ve been

Guardiola is known for over-complimenting teams or players his City side have just battered, but his praise for Nunes - albeit hyperbole - is somewhat genuine.

The Portuguese midfielder is known for his searing pace and outstanding technical talent, and he would have fit perfectly into a midfield containing Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

The 23-year-old has quickly emerged as one of the most promising up-and-coming midfielders in the world and his performances this season have warranted links with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and - more tediously - Manchester City.

If true, the judgement call from Benitez has to go down as his worst error as Everton manager, with Sporting Lisbon now calling for around £40million - double what the Toffees could have signed him for less than a year ago.

Another error to add to the list

Upon reflection, the appointment of Benitez was nothing short of a disaster.

The former Liverpool manager was on the back foot from the moment he arrived and the appointment seemed destined to fail.

The showing on the pitch was bad enough in itself - Everton won one of 14 league games in the build-up to Benitez’ sacking - but a myriad of peculiar decisions off the field also proved costly and more are still coming to light.

The Spaniard sanctioned the sale of Lucas Digne, a prominent member of the first-team and one of Everton’s best players, after a fallout between the two and the French full-back was shipped to Premier League rivals Aston Villa for £25 million.

And Benitez also had a significant input in the departure of Marcel Brands, whose recruitment was far from perfect but a lack of preparation now leaves the Toffees without a director of football.

More recently, James Rodriguez has spoke out on his departure from Goodison Park after a promising start in blue disintegrated into immature spats and a move to Qatar, laying the blame on Benitez.

“I would have liked to have been at Everton for much longer.” Rodriguez said recently.

“It’s a spectacular club, the fans are incredible, but I ran into a coach who didn’t want to count on me. I wanted to be there.

“Unfortunately, the coach didn’t want to count on me”.

The decisions have left Everton in a perilous position, floating just above the relegation zone and lacking structure at the club, and the news of Benitez turning down Nunes is just another nail in the coffin.