Fans react as Everton cast off Nikola Vlasic thrives for Croatia

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Football fans have been reacting to the performance of Nikola Vlasic for Croatia against Wales yesterday. Croatia fought to a 1-1 draw against an impressive Wales side at the Cardiff City Stadium last night, with Gareth Bale scoring the equaliser for Wales just before half-time. 

Croatia had taken the lead in the ninth minute courtesy of the former Everton player Vlasic. The former Toffee hit a tame looking shot from just outside the box beyond the reach of the outstretched Wayne Hennessey. 

It was a shining light in an all-round impressive performance for Vlasic. It was also the midfielder’s seventh goal of the season since making his loan move at CSKA from Everton permanent in the summer. 

Everton snapped up Vlasic in 2017 after he impressed against the Toffees in a Europa League qualifier for Hajduk Split. As reported by the BBC, Everton spent £10 million to bring Vlasic in. 

But it was yet another case of that summer’s scattergun transfer approach. Vlasic, joined Davy Klaassen, Wayne Rooney, and Gylfi Sigurdsson in wanting to play the same position. 

Vlasic struggled for game time at Everton so he was loaned out to CSKA last season. He impressed in Russia and, as reported by the BBC, the Russian side spent £14 million this summer to make the deal permanent.

Considering the fact Klaassen and Rooney are gone and Sigurdsson’s streak of poor form, it would appear Everton backed the wrong horse when it came to their number 10 issue. 

At least, that seems to be the consensus on Twitter from fans who saw Vlasic’s performance against Wales…