Jô, the Brazil striker, has effectively been "sent home"
to Manchester City in disgrace by Everton after going absent
without leave.
It is a development not expected by Roberto Mancini, the new
City manager, and perhaps not desired, either. The Italian already
has six strikers to keep happy. Jô, who was due to spend the season
on loan at Goodison Park, would not rank in the top five and his
career at City would seem bleak, too.
David Moyes, the Everton manager, suspended Jô yesterday after
he had travelled to Brazil for "personal reasons" for a two-week
break without gaining permission. "He is now back but is suspended
at the present time," Moyes said. "I am disappointed. We like Jô.
He has been a really good lad and we have enjoyed having him.
"But there has to be discipline at all football clubs. He left
over a busy period when we were short of players. I found it very
difficult, so he is suspended from the club. It might not be
indefinite. I need to see how it is, but I feel right now that I
have to take some action."
Moyes might be appearing to keep his options open, with Everton
facing a potentially awkward FA Cup third-round tie at home to
Carlisle United today. He is short of forwards, with Yakubu
Ayegbeni having joined the Nigeria squad for the African Cup of
Nations and Louis Saha absent with a hamstring injury.
Privately, however, he has washed his hands of Jô. "He doesn’t
want him," a club source said. "His Everton career is now over."
Everton officials will discuss the cancellation of the loan deal as
soon as possible.
Jô’s abrupt exit, rather conveniently, will assist Moyes in the
January transfer window. The Scot has little — if any — funds with
which to manoeuvre over the next four weeks and will have to rely
on loan agreements. Only two loans are allowed from fellow Premier
League clubs, with Jô having filled one of those berths at
Goodison. His departure frees the slot, giving Moyes a full
complement to work with. If it assists Moyes, it can only hinder
Mancini. He is spoilt for choice in the strike department, with
Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Benjani Mwaruwari, Carlos
Tévez, Craig Bellamy and Robinho to choose from.
Although Adebayor will be with Togo for the African Cup of
Nations this month, Jô is still likely to remain a peripheral
figure at the City of Manchester Stadium. Mancini will also hope
that his return does not prove disruptive to Robinho.
Last season, Mark Hughes, Mancini’s predecessor, struggled to
keep control of the Brazilian "clan" of Robinho, Jô and Elano.
With Elano having left for Galatasaray in Turkey last summer and
Jô at Everton, it was widely recognised that Robinho appeared more
settled.
Jô, 22, last played for Everton in the 3-3 draw with Chelsea
three weeks ago, during which he injured a knee. He had scored two
goals this season, in the 4-0 wins over AEK Athens in the Europa
League and Hull City in the Carling Cup third round. He had done
well on a shorter loan period with Everton at the end last season,
scoring five goals in 12 games.
City signed Jô on a four-year contract from CSKA Moscow in July
2008 for what was then a club-record fee of £18 million, but the
player failed to adapt to life there.
