Tim Cahill says Everton's financial situation is tough on the players.
Disquiet has been growing in some sections of support for some time but has noticeably increased since the deadline day sale of playmaker Mikel Arteta to Arsenal.
With Jermaine Beckford and Ayegbeni Yakubu also leaving, debt-hit Everton are thought to have brought in around £15million.
Cahill said: "It is difficult for everyone but the reality is this is football, this is what we live in.
"If we had a couple of hundred million like they do across the park it would be a different story, but it is not. It is hard, Mikky was one of my closest friends and someone I admire a lot, but the whole scenario was right for everyone.
"Mikky might go on to play for his national team and he is going to play in the Champions League, which is something he wanted.
"It is also good for the club. He is off the books and raised a lot of money. We never want to lose a player like that that has given so much to the club but we want to make sure this club is alive for years to come."
