Jelavic: I didn’t force transfer to Toffees

Nikica Jelavic has refuted claims by Rangers owner Craig Whyte that he forced the Scottish club to sell him.

The 26 year old joined Everton on Tuesday night ahead of the transfer deadline, and he told the assembled press at his, and Steven Pienaar‘s, unveiling that Whyte was wrong about him.

“I never forced my transfer. I spoke with my manager, Ally McCoist, and I said to him ‘if the president wants me to stay, I’ll stay’,” said Jelavic.

“‘If he wants me to leave, if they need money, I’ll leave – no problem’.”

The Croatian striker also revealed that he will have to learn to adjust quickly to the Premier League, and that he hoped to do well for his new club and its fans.

“I want to prove myself here now and to play well for the club and the supporters.

“Scotland is not on such a high level as the English Premier League, so I will need to be a bit better to show everybody that I deserve to be here.

“It’s different football. I will need to play always at 100%. I don’t know much about Everton, but I know it is a good club, always in the middle of the table.

“In the four and a half years of my contract, I have time to learn.”