Gerard Deulofeu now makes emotional claim after Everton loanee’s horror tackle today

Everton’s Mason Holgate was sent off today, but fortunately, he was featuring for relegation rivals Sheffield United.

It marks one of few intelligent moves that the club has made in recent years, seemingly sabotaging one of those sides also desperately scrambling for survival.

In two of his three games for his loanee club, the 27-year-old has shipped five goals in one, and been sent off after 13 minutes in another.

Many rushed to rightly condemn his horror tackle: a woefully high and emphatic effort that struck the inside of Kaoru Mitoma’s leg, with Richard Keys and Andy Gray two of the most angered pundits.

However, one surprise character has emerged to lambast the tackle as well…

What Gerard Deulofeu said about Mason Holgate

Few would have expected Gerard Deulofeu to have weighed in on a clash that seemingly had no relation to him, other than the fact he enjoyed a very brief crossover with Holgate during his spell with Everton.

The Spanish winger is largely still a well-liked figure around Goodison Park, as a magic maestro who struck up a stunning combination with Romelu Lukaku for a period.

He marks a symbol of a much brighter era on Merseyside, but one that has dissipated dramatically in recent years.

And now, he has taken to X to lambast the English central defender, writing: ‘This boy has been a teammate of mine but I see this and my heart breaks because I am experiencing it firsthand. We must begin to sanction this type of tackle in an exemplary and appropriate manner. IT IS INADMISSIBLE.’

Mason Holgate could never play for Everton again

Having failed to make a single appearance this season under Sean Dyche’s watch, and only been used sparingly last campaign when expressly needed, Holgate is clearly very out of favour under this club’s current leadership.

And, his two torrid stints on loan this campaign will have done little to ease that position either.

Struggling for game time with Championship Southampton, it now seems like he is headed back down to that division with Sheffield United.

Given his contract expires this summer too, Holgate may very well have played his last game for the club, leaving in acrimonious circumstances.

However, should his awful showings continue to plague a relegation rival, even if Deulofeu is left frustrated, it might actually be a positive last stand as an Everton player.