EVERTON new-boy Beto, 25, was working for KFC just FOUR YEARS AGO before realising his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
The Toffees have sealed a deal with Udinese that will see them pay the Serie A club £25million.
He scored ten goals and registered one assist in 33 league appearances last season.
It’s been a rags to riches story for the Portuguese striker, who told DAZN last summer that he was forced to work a second job while playing for amateur Lisbon side Tires in 2018.
He said: “I was training with Tires and working in Portugal, it was a nice life. I was working at KFC. It was good.”
Beto began his ascent to the Premier League by leaving Tires to join third division Portuguese side Clube Olimpico Monjito.
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It was at Monjito that he was noticed by Liga NOS side Portimonense and after just a year of playing in the third tier found himself playing in Portugal’s highest division.
Asked by DAZN how he feels walking past a KFC now he is a fully-fledged pro, he said: “Nothing special, but when I return home, I always go to that KFC to visit my friends.
“I’ve always believed I could have become a footballer. I wanted to become a professional football player.
“My team-mates didn’t believe it, maybe just two of them. They were telling me: ‘Beto, it’s hard, it’s impossible.’ Then I joined Portimonense and they changed their mind.”
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Beto will join Portuguese compatriot and fellow striker Youssef Chermiti at Everton, who signed for £12m from Sporting earlier this month.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche was desperate to reinforce his forward line this summer after his strikers proved particularly blunt in front of goal last season.
Neal Maupay managed just one goal in 27 appearances and an injury hit Dominic Calvert Lewin scored just two goals in his 17 outings.
Calvert Lewin’s injury woe continued when he suffered a horror eye injury against Aston Villa in Everton’s second game.
Everton are yet to score a goal this season, so Toffees fans will be desperate for Beto to make an instant impact.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
