Former Everton striker Beto is having a rocky start after his return to Serie A. The forward, who made the switch to Fiorentina for €18 million in the summer, is struggling to meet expectations and has come under fierce scrutiny.
Everton signed Beto in 2023 for €30 million. Over three seasons, he made 113 appearances in all competitions, scoring 25 goals, but he never truly cemented his place as a first-choice starter.
Last season at Goodison Park, he often found himself behind Tierno Barry in the pecking order. In pursuit of more game time, Beto opted for a return to Italy's top flight.
Fiorentina brought in the forward at the end of the summer transfer window, hoping to replace Moise Kean after his move to Como.
However, Beto's debut season in Florence has not gone as planned.
Following Fiorentina's defeat to Genoa, former club defender Fabrizio Berni delivered a scathing critique of the striker on Radio FirenzeViola.
Berni remarked:
At this current state, Beto is completely useless to the team. He reminds me of a worse version of Arthur Cabral.
This comparison is particularly stinging, considering Cabral was also brought in to fill the shoes of a key forward, Dusan Vlahovic, but failed to live up to the fans’ expectations.
Concerns about Beto's future are echoed by Quotidiano Sportivo, who believe he has yet to meet the demands of a starting spot in the Fiorentina squad.
Despite the trust of head coach Paolo Vanoli, the player is far from his best form.
The situation is further complicated by the competition with Mateo Pellegrino, who has already netted three goals this season and is significantly more involved in the team’s attacking play.
Yet, there are objective reasons for Beto’s difficult start. He joined Fiorentina just before the transfer window closed and immediately faced the challenge of replacing one of the attack’s leaders.
Moreover, the team's poor start to the season complicates the adaptation process for newcomers.
At this point, Beto finds himself in a familiar situation: he left Everton seeking more minutes on the pitch, only to now be fighting for a starting spot once again in Italy.
