Allan is vowing to “fight for every ball” in a bid to achieve his ambition of winning major honours with Everton.
The midfielder completed a move to Goodison Park from Napoli on Friday after eight years in Italy’s Serie A where he acquired a reputation as a fierce competitor.
Brazilian Allan was streets ahead of anyone performing in Europe’s top leagues for the number of tackles won (124) in his final campaign with Udinese in 2014/15.
A more recent video of the player celebrating a challenge which prevented an opposition counterattack was widely circulated by Evertonians on social media as speculation grew over Allan joining the Club.
Carlo Ancelotti managed Allan in Naples and knows his new signing will add much more than midfield bite.
The player agrees nonetheless that his appetite for battle is a major attribute
“A strong part of my game is marking and the desire to go in to win absolutely every ball,” Allan told evertontv.
“That is definitely a differential in my game and I believe with my desire I can put in really good performances to win over the fans.
“I hope to win great things here at Everton, win some trophies, so there will be a tremendous amount of dedication from me.
“In the life of a footballer, it is about winning trophies.
“Without a doubt, with the project going on here, we could and should win something and get a place in the European competitions, which would be very important.
“I've been very competitive since I was a child; always wanted to win.
“Everything we do in midfield and defence – winning a 50/50, winning a tackle or a one-on-one, clearing the ball – a lot of the time it's like scoring goal.
“In the game, sometimes these things are very important.
“At times it all seems so natural but a tackle, winning a one-on-one, clearing a ball, if it's quite a tight game we celebrate as if it's a goal.
“That's about dedication and giving everything on the pitch.”
Allan played more than 200 games in five years with Napoli after transferring from Udinese in summer 2015.
He won Italy’s domestic cup – the Coppa Italia – in his final season and three times was a Serie A runner-up to Juventus.
The 29-year-old received his first international call in November 2018 and the following year was part of his country’s Copa America success on home soil.
Allan admits the prospect of teaming up again with Everton manager Ancelotti – who was in charge for 61 of the player's Napoli appearances – was a huge pull as he sized up his options this summer.
And when he learned of the Club’s ambition and the real possibility of competing for more silverware, the South American was completely sold on Everton.
“Carlo Ancelotti said, undoubtedly, I would love the city and the Club and have the fans on my side as they really like players of my type,” said Allan, whose three-year deal keeps him at Everton until at least June 2023.
“I received a lot of messages from Everton fans and that made me really happy and confident in the work I can do here.
“In my style of football, I'm a very dedicated player, a team player who looks to help out his teammates and I hope with my performances I can get even more fans behind me.
“Right from the start I saw how much Everton wanted to sign me, how interested they were in bringing my football to the Club.
“That gives you confidence
“I saw Everton was the best choice for me, taking into account the Club’s history, the fantastic project they have, looking to compete at the top of the Premier League and with a new stadium on the way.
“Everton is a Club with a rich history, then there is professor Ancelotti.
“Without a doubt, it is the size of the Club and the name of the coach which means you don’t think twice about coming to Everton.”
In addition to Ancelotti and members of the Italian’s coaching staff, Allan will be greeted at Everton by a familiar face in international colleague Richarlison.
Forward Richarlison featured on the night Allan made his Brazil debut against Uruguay at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium nearly two years ago.
The duo have won five of the six games they’ve played together for their country.
“I talk a lot with Richarlison when we're together with the national team and during the negotiations to come to Everton – we play together on the same mobile phone game – he was asking me, 'When are you coming? We need you here, come here.', said Allan.
“To hear that from someone like Richarlison, it was really satisfying in that you're important and you're wanted at a team.
“That's something from Richarlison I really appreciated and I'll do everything to assist him and help him on the pitch.”
Allan added: “It is a real pleasure to sign for Everton.
“I hope, like I have done in my entire career, I contribute with my performances together with my teammates – that I put in some great performances and win important things.”
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