Manchester United have been urged to sign ‘physical’ Premier League star Beto from Everton this summer in what would be a shock move.
United head coach Ruben Amorim is keen for a new-look strike force at Old Trafford with the Red Devils linked to a number of attacking players.
Matheus Cunha has already joined United from Wolves and Amorim is reportedly keen to recruit Viktor Gyokeres from his old club Sporting CP.
But Fernando Lopes is convinced that Beto would be a better choice for United, despite the striker scoring just 15 goals in 71 games for Everton.
Lopes, the president of Portuguese club Uniao Tires, where Beto started his career, told The Sun: ‘Everyone thought Amorim would sign Gyokeres as he had him at Sporting – but the Premier League is completely different to Portugal.
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‘Teams are more physical and compact at the back, it is quicker and more competitive.
‘Beto is a real headache for opponents’
‘Gyokeres would struggle to play as a lone No. 9 waiting for service.
‘Beto’s a more physical player, who fights with defenders and doesn’t lose duels.
‘He is a real headache for opponents – if he gets the service.
‘In their golden era, United always scored a lot of goals from set-pieces but haven’t had a proper striker for many seasons.
‘Nowadays, teams have small, quick strikers or a false forward because there is an obsession for possession of the ball.
‘Beto represents the typical old style’
‘Beto represents the typical old style, because of his physique, power and work-rate – plus he is very fast.
‘When [David] Moyes went to Everton he showed what a handful he is for defenders to stop.
‘He’d be like Amorim’s ace up his sleeve in a game of poker.’
Everton paid around €30m (£25.8m) to sign Beto from Italian club Udinese in the summer of 2023.
The 27-year-old Guinea-Bissau international scored eight Premier League goals across 30 top-flight games in the 2024-25 campaign.
Beto is currently under contract at Everton until the summer of 2027.
‘One of Beto’s attributes is the fighting spirit first injected at Tires,’ Lopes added. ‘He has had the attitude of never giving up since he was a boy. I’d love to see him in a more attacking team because if he has the service, he will definitely score around 20.’