“I want to set an example for others”

B.Eto’o (Lisbon, 1998) suddenly appeared in the elite, surprising everyone. After scoring 11 goals in the Portuguese league with Portimonense, Udinese paid €7m to get his signature. And soon he began to amaze “Calcio”: an imposing and dominant physique, communication with his teammates … and goals: He scored 21 (11 + 10) in his two seasons in Friuli. Now, while attending MARCA, he aims for new targets but remembers where his past is (not too far away) He was about to give up on football.

Netflix series? It takes a little bit to do that. I think my story is a growth story

Beto, Udinese player

“A series on Netflix? It takes a while to do that,” he admits, laughing. “I think my story is a story of growth. It’s all because of my job, my way of thinking, and my confidence. I want to be more now,” stated Beto who conveys ambition at the age of 25.

Not so long ago, when I was scoring goals in regional football, Beto combined the internship with his job at Kentucky Fried Chicken. “It was fun,” he laughs. “It wasn’t boring, I loved it. Sunday I had the day off at the restaurant but I always had something to do: it was game day!” It wasn’t as hard for me as everyone thinks.”

Sunday was a day off at the restaurant but I always had something to do: it was game day!

Beto, Udinese player

Step by step, goal after goal, Betou was climbing. Although she did have her awkward moments: In 2016 he considered quitting football. Everything changed when he quit his job in a fast food restaurant: “I said to myself, I have to quit and go into football 100%. Just football. And so it was: I scored 21 goals and he made me an offer.”

Beto admits that he had his ups and downs: combining football and school was not easy. “There came a time when I said, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know what I’m doing…’ and then I changed.” One of his most repeated statements is that, aware of his extraordinary rise to the elite (he briefly went through Benfica’s youth academy but reached the elite through sub-football), he wants to inspire others: “Life is very difficult for everyone. I had doubts but if you have goals in life, if you know you are capable… I don’t want to set an example as a footballer, but as a person. I want to motivate others.”

I do not want to set an example as a football player, but as a person. I want to motivate others

Beto, Udinese player

Differential striker

11 goals in his first season with Udinese, 10 in his second. Beto has already justified the investment from Udinese: “Beto? He has great potential and he’s still young. But And if an offer comes from a big club, Pozzo said, it will be impossible to stay with him … “firulianos patron, a few days ago.

“Ibrahimovic told me I was strong and I was doing well,” he said in 2022, with words he now reaffirms. His speed record is about 35 km / h. And that with his height of 1.94m and his powerful stride, he is devastating in the open field.

Ibrahimovic told me that I am strong and that I am doing well

Beto, Udinese player

Beto formed A great pairing in the first months of the tournament with Deulofeu. The Spaniard (from 2023) injured them and Udinese, with Sutil as coach, lost the second half of the season. They finished far from the champions positions they occupied at the start of the tournament but were rescued comfortably.

while, Portuguese votes for Napoli, for premium clubs… But before this question he says he doesn’t read the press much. He throws balls, and focuses on Udinese (he has a contract until 2026). Meanwhile, Carnevale, former teammate of Maradona at Napoli and now manager at Udine, He declares that he sees similarities with Osimhen. “I don’t think so,” he laughs.