Everton star once sparked riot on pitch and worried about being physically attacked

Everton midfielder Charly Alcaraz once netted a cup-final winner that triggered mayhem both on and off the pitch, so there's little in the Premier League that can intimidate him. Alcaraz spent the closing six months of last season on loan at Goodison Park before sealing a £13million permanent move from Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

He can now chuckle about the header that clinched the Trofeo de Campeones for Racing Club at the Bombonera, home of bitter rivals Boca Juniors, three years ago. His effort was met by a hail of projectiles from furious home supporters, whilst Alvarez's celebration ignited a melee that resulted in him being dismissed alongside five Boca players.

"It wasn't my fault, all I did was score," grinned Alcaraz, who departed with a winner's medal despite the match being called off because Boca were reduced to six men.

"We love our passion in Argentina and the euphoria in that game was a good example of that. The Racing vs Boca derbies are always feisty affairs. That goal was important because it was it was a chance to win my first trophy.

"That's always a special moment. To score the winner in that game I was always bound the celebrate but for whatever reason, the Boca guys didn't really like it.

"There's a lot of evidence out there to see what they did. They surrounded me and grabbed me and there were a few sendings-off."

Alcaraz, who spent a season with Southampton following his switch to St Mary's from Racing Club, has also enjoyed a loan stint with Italian heavyweights Juventus but feels completely at ease in the Premier League.

He said: "In Argentina it is passion to the extreme. Obviously the grounds in England are great and the atmosphere in the stadium is special, but in Argentina it is a case apart.

"You see that when teams are performing badly. If you get relegated they might damage the stadium or even physically attack the players.

"When things are going badly they wait for players outside training and get at them verbally and sometimes physically. It has boiled over into violence."

Everton kick off their campaign at newly-promoted Leeds United and Alcaraz believes the arrival of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City will provide the club with a genuine boost.

He said: "Jack is a great guy. In the short time he has been here, he has had time for everyone, chatted to everyone and tried to get to know everyone.

"We have seen his quality and I think he can bring a lot to the club. We are a team that likes to play football but we also have to put in the hard yards - and Jack is going to buy into that.

"What I have been really impressed with is that he has been a real warrior in training.

"We want that attitude. We are at a club where we are all in it together. We can help Jack in the same way that he can bring a lot to the party."

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express transfer newsletter.