Everton winger Bernard recently posted a reply on Instagram and dismissed speculation surrounding his future at Goodison Park (via The Liverpool Echo). The Brazilian wide player has been linked with a switch to AS Roma this summer, but he squashed those rumours by posting a comment which read, “This is a lie.”
Bernard’s Inconsistent Form At Merseyside This Season
The 27-year-old has endured a frustrating season at Merseyside as he has struggled to hit top gear in the Premier League so far. He has also missed a few matches in this campaign due to a knee injury. Bernard has scored three goals and provided two assists in 22 games for the Toffees on all fronts, which highlights his lack of consistency in front of the watchful eyes of the Goodison faithful this term.
The Belo Horizonte-born talent has averaged 0.6 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in the English top-flight this season (stats via whoscored). Bernard’s numbers are far from impressive, but on his day, he can be a real game-changer for Everton and so Carlo Ancelotti can benefit from retaining his services for the time being.
The talented playmaker has also earned 14 senior caps for the Brazilian national team, registering one goal for his homeland in the process. Based on his current form, it is highly unlikely that Bernard will be a part of Tite’s squad for the next edition of the Copa America which will kick-off at the end of next season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Does The Brazilian Wing Wizard Offer On The Field?
Bernard is a quick and agile winger who doesn’t mind making a few dangerous runs with the ball down the left flank. He has terrific balance and close control of the ball that allows him to get out of tight spaces and cause a lot of headaches for the opposition defenders. The South American sensation can also contribute by scoring or setting up the odd goal from time to time but needs to find some consistency with his end product in the final third.
Bernard Dismisses Everton Exit Rumours: Massive Boost For Ancelotti?
Now that Bernard has come out and squashed speculation about his future, Ancelotti can breathe a sigh of relief as he won’t have to rush to find a suitable replacement for him this summer. This recent development will be a huge boost for Everton and their short-term ambitions as a football club. However, Ancelotti should still consider bringing in some attacking reinforcements this summer to keep the likes of Bernard, Richarlison and Alex Iwobi on their toes in the race to secure a regular starting berth at Merseyside next season.
At 27, the Brazilian still has a few good years left in him which the Toffees can look to benefit from in the coming seasons. If Bernard can find a way to stay injury-free, then he can still end up being a talismanic figure for the Toffees in the future. However, he will first have to win over Ancelotti’s confidence by maintaining some consistency with his performances on the training ground.
