Ex-Everton star Andy van der Meyde had transfer scuppered because of pet zebras

In 2005, Everton's capture of Inter Milan's Andy van der Meyde caused quite the excitement on Merseyside – and he went on to have quite the colourful career for the Toffees that featured private investigators, strippers, and booze.

But that could have been avoided if he had made his dream move to Monaco instead of rocking up on Merseyside.

Van der Meyde had been swayed by the sunny French Riviera over Albert Docks, but his then-wife wasn't so convinced. No, she wasn't a massive fan of the Beatles – instead, she had hoped to keep hold of her pets, including a zebra.

READ MORE: Ex-Everton star caught having 'wild horny sex' with stripper by wife's private investigator

Speaking about the move, he said: "I wanted to sign for Monaco before I went to Everton but my ex-wife likes a lot of animals. I like a dog or something but not what she likes – zebras and all that sort of stuff.

"If I went there I could have made a lot of money because I wouldn't have had to pay tax there. I phoned my wife and said 'hey they only have apartments there and you can't have a zebra in the flat, you'll have to leave them at home'.

"That was not her thing and she didn't want to go there, so we went to rainy Liverpool."

What do you think of Van der Meyde snubbing a move to Monaco for a zebra? Let us know in the comments section

Van der Meyde struggled on the pitch and with his personal life during his time at Everton, and he later apologised to the Everton fans after going sober: "It was not the gaffer’s fault, not my teammates’ fault, not the supporters’ fault. Nobody else’s fault. It was my own fault.

"Everton is a great club. The supporters were always behind me and I messed it up for them. I really want to say I am sorry for that. I hope one day I can go back to Goodison and everything will be okay."

  • Ex-Everton star drafted into Russian Army despite not meeting stated criteria

  • Liverpool fans laughing after Coady says offside goal among 'best feelings of his career'

  • Everton star Anthony Gordon was 'never desperate to leave' despite Chelsea interest

Source: Read Full Article