The 26-year-old moved to Goodison Park on deadline day, joining Sean Dyche’s Premier League strugglers on a season-long loan deal.
It marked an immediate return to England for Mangala, who had only left Nottingham Forest from Lyon, initially on loan, in the winter transfer window earlier this year.
Italian giants Fiorentina made a big bid to beat Everton to Mangala and it was suggested in some quarters he favoured La Viola, but the Toffees won the day.
Bia, the person, who was working as an intermediary in securing the player for Fiorentina revealed that the president of Lyon wanted the Everton move since he has a good relationship with his Everton counterpart.
Mangala has since featured in one Premier League game for Everton, playing for 26 minutes, but was unable to prevent a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa.
