Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has spoken about his return to the club this summer.
The Senegal star eventually left Paris Saint-Germain and rejoined the Toffees in the transfer window, despite the deal taking several weeks to complete.
Gueye has spoken about returning, along with the difficulty of watching from afar as the club was almost relegated last season.
“It would happen every time," Gueye said about watching the club's games after leaving, per the Liverpool Echo.
“My friends would say, 'Oh, get out with your team!'... They used to try to wind me up because they knew how much I cared, but I told them, 'You will see, we will be okay!'
“It hurt me to see the club having a difficult time but I never stopped believing in them. The last few games were really, really tough for me because I was believing but I was worrying, too.
“This club can't go down to the Championship. When they managed to do it against Crystal Palace, they made me proud. Then, seeing the supporters after the final whistle and seeing what it means to them, it's a good moment and it just shows how big club this is.
“But now I want to leave those kind of moments and reactions for the successful moments. I want us to be celebrating winning, not staying in the league - it's a different thing. Last season is done now. It's a fresh start."
He added on returning: “I'm very, very happy to have another opportunity to give my all for this club. I spent three years here and once you are a blue, you are always a blue.
“How can I explain? It's in my heart and it's a feeling that will not leave. This club is part of me. It's hard to find the words but coming back here, the sensation I had was that — like coming home. I had a good period in PSG and I was only ever going to leave for Everton.
“There were other opportunities, but I told my agent to refuse them straight away. It wasn't in my plan to come back, but, as soon as Everton called me and said they needed me and wanted me to help... I cannot say no. It's my home, that's how I feel.
“I can't say no to Everton, regardless of whether they're at the top of the league or bottom. It doesn't matter for me because I care about this club. I'm up for this challenge and I want to help us move up the table.
“I want to bring my experiences from the past three years with me to the team.The reaction I've had from the Evertonians has made me very, very proud.
“They just confirmed to me — not that I had any doubts whatsoever — that I made the right decision to come back here. They've shown me that I'm part of this family. That's the most important thing to me: the human beings, the people."
