‘He is unique: Club president really can’t believe that 25-year-old has joined Everton

Uniao Tires’ club president has called Beto ‘unique’ following his move to Everton.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Fernando Lopes heaped praise on the striker he has known since he joined Uniao Tires as a nine-year-old.

Beto spent three years with the Portuguese club’s senior team and worked at KFC alongside it to earn some extra cash. Uniao Tires currently ply their trade in Lisbon’s FA League, while their former attacker has just earned himself a £25.8 million switch to the Premier League.

Lopes, who has known Beto for almost 20 years, has claimed it is ‘only him’ that could make such a leap up to the English top flight.

Fernando Lopes can ‘rest easy’ now that Beto has joined the Premier League

“Of course I am very proud of Beto’s success. He is unique,” he told the ECHO.

“Nobody goes from Tires to the Premier League. Just him.

“I felt a huge sense of satisfaction. I also feel relief personally because if he hadn’t made it to professional football I would always be indebted to him.

“That’s because every time I gave him advice he went home and couldn’t sleep, thinking about whether he was choosing the best path for him. That’s why I say that now that he’s arrived in English football I believe I can rest easy and even more so to see him both happy and successful.”

Beto didn’t get his big break in one of Europe’s big five leagues until he joined Udinese two years ago, having spent most of his career in Portugal.

After scoring 21 goals across two seasons in Serie A, the 25-year-old will now hope he can help turn things around for Everton and make a name for himself in the biggest league in the world.