Beto believes his time at Everton made him more ruthless, even though he is still waiting for his first goal for Fiorentina. The forward left Everton on transfer deadline day last month, joining the Italian side in a deal worth around £17m.
Beto opens up on Everton impact
Speaking via Sky Sport, Beto said: “I’ve changed; when I was at Udine, I didn’t have much experience. Now I feel calmer and more ‘ruthless’ in how I do things. I think Serie A is tougher now; before, it was more about defence and tactics. It’s becoming a beautiful league again.”
The Guinea-Bissau international joined Everton from Udinese for £25.8m in August 2023. He played 113 games for the club, scoring 25 goals and hitting back-to-back figures in both of his last two seasons. After entering the final 12 months of his deal, he returned to Serie A last month.
Awaiting first goal for Fiorentina
Beto is yet to score in four games for Fiorentina. He was called a 'top player' by new team-mate Mateo Pellegrino last month. Beto added: “We need goals, but not just mine. People always remind me: ‘I picked you for my fantasy team’, but I’m used to that.
“I really like how the team is evolving; it’s becoming a real team. Pellegrino? I’m very happy for him; he welcomed me warmly. He listens carefully to what I tell him. He deserves these goals, but I don’t want to get left behind either. I just want to score, but if it’s a 'Beto-style goal,' even better.
“I think everyone wants to reach the top. We don’t know if it will happen this season, but Fiorentina belongs at the top. And I’ll work to get there.”
Moyes defiant after deadline day
Beto’s departure came during a chaotic deadline day that also saw Folarin Balogun walk out on a move to the club. Everton boss David Moyes now has only one senior forward, Thierno Barry. Days after the window closed, he said it could galvanise players and fans to achieve 'something special' this season.
“We don’t have a huge squad, but sometimes you need to do something special in football and we will attempt to do something special,” Moyes said. “It’s not going to be easy. You know what happens in these situations? There's only one person who tends to get called out at the end [the manager].
“But Everton's different. I wouldn’t have come back for anybody but Everton. People saw the face of Evertonians last week and it can be really powerful. I would expect them to be really powerful now. Powerful for the team, powerful for the players. We’re going to need extra from them because we’re short. We need them. If they’re not with us, then it’s terrible.
“But they are with us. I believe they are with us. I love Everton and always have done. It’s reinvigorated me being back and now there’s a little bump in the road. I need to get over the bump quickly and start looking at how I can make it go smoothly.”
