Italian football expert Nicky Bandini profiles Everton's summer signing from Udinese as he continues working towards full match fitness.
Player analysis - Beto
It is only five years since Beto quit his job at KFC. He left home to pursue his dream of playing professional football, signing for Clube Olímpico do Montijo in Portuguese football’s 72-team third tier. Scoring goals, back then, paid less well than working the cash register in a chicken shop on the second floor of a mall in Alcabideche.
“When the time came to sign my contract, I told the club president, ‘I will come but you need to give me €400 [a month],’” recalled Beto in a first-person piece for the Italian website Cronache di Spogliatoio last year. “I was earning €500-600 a month at KFC, based on my hours.
“He gave me a very bad look and said: ‘First you need to prove yourself.’ OK, Beto will accept that challenge. First match: three goals. Second match: assist. Third match: three goals. ‘OK Beto, we’ll do €350 a month.’”
Rapid rise
It has been a dizzying ascent since for the striker who joined Everton this month in a deal worth close to €30million. He lasted one season at Olímpico do Montijo before being snapped up by Portimonense in the Portuguese top flight. After hitting double figures in his second season there (his first as a starter), it was on to Udinese in Serie A.
Beto's debut goal for Everton
"Beto late than never!" ⌛️#CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/f3PbQz0Svc
— Everton (@Everton) August 30, 2023
Beto’s life had transformed in what felt like the blink of an eye. He relished the thrill of playing in full stadiums and scoring goals, as well as the warmth of supporters. Even so, he would not want anyone to think that life before was some great suffering.
“Some people think my story was difficult because I had to work, but that was normal for us,” said Beto. “On the contrary, I had a few laughs, especially when I had my cousin working on the till next to me. Now I am realising my dream, it’s true, but my journey off the pitch was not difficult. That was a beautiful life too: wake up early, straight to KFC, then rush to training and straight back home to bed. That wasn’t a punishment, I was happy.”
Room to improve
He always wanted to work and to contribute. Beto’s mother used to tell him off for running the hot water in the shower too long, so he put his first KFC pay packet in her hand to cover his share. Football was always his passion, but he came close to quitting as a teenager after he was released from Benfica’s youth team and the prospect of making it into a profession seemed too far away.
It was the president of his first club, União de Tires, who pulled him back in, reminding Beto of his qualities, but also convincing him of the need to knuckle down and get serious. The player who arrives at Everton earned his reputation as a hard worker and good team-mate.
His goalscoring statistics were good, but not great for Udinese – with 11 goals in his first season, 10 in the second – but those who worked with Beto on a daily basis speak of a player still working to realise his full potential. The Italian club’s manager, Andrea Sottil, defined him recently as “extraordinary,” and “a humble lad who has the hunger and can still grow".
Eto'o an inspiration
But maybe not in the literal sense. At a little more than 6ft 4in tall, Beto is imposing enough. He is a confident dribbler, but would like to become even more explosive in his acceleration, as well as to score more often – just like his idol Samuel Eto’o, whose photos adorned his bedroom walls and his computer desktop background as a kid. For a while, he insisted on going by the nickname Beto’o.
He grew up watching the Premier League – he has described himself as a Chelsea fan in the past – and the opportunity to follow in Eto’o’s footsteps by playing for Everton made this move “even more special”. To exceed the Cameroonian’s three goals for the Toffees would be a low bar. But for a team who have failed to find the net so far this season, that might still be a nice place to start.
Nicky Bandini (@nickybandini) is a sports writer and broadcaster who specialises in European football
