Hired this month by Flamengo, Everton chose shirt 19. It was with that number on his back that he lived his great moment, as one of the protagonists of the Brazilian team in winning the 2019 Copa América. to act frequently, in very different circumstances.
The 26-year-old arrived at the club with morale and was worth an investment that could reach 16 million euros (R$ 87 million) with the fulfillment of some goals. But the passage through European football, which began in 2020, was not what was expected, nor was the continuity in the national team expected.
Top scorer of that continental tournament alongside the Peruvian Guerrero, with three goals, Cebolinha defended Brazil 13 more times, didn’t hit the net in any of them and gave only one assist. A starter in the decision of another Copa América, that of 2021, also at Maracanã, he was substituted in the 1-0 defeat to Argentina and never played for the green-yellow team again.
At Benfica, where he went to play after his success with Brazil, he had two seasons that, if they cannot be considered weak, did not live up to the expectations created. There were 15 goals and 17 assists in 95 matches. Instead of jumping from Portugal to major European centers, a path common to good Brazilian players, he returned to his country, freed without much resistance.
Between Porto Alegre, Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro, the former Grêmio player stayed away from Qatar. While playing without much prominence in Europe, Everton saw Vinicius Junior, 21, blossom at Real Madrid, who would not have been champions of the Champions League without Rodrygo, 21. Raphinha, 25, caught attention even in little Leeds. Antony, 22, fulfilled his role at Ajax very well.
Even Martinelli, 21, from Arsenal, who still had little space in the national team’s shirt, began to be watched more closely by coach Tite and entered the last friendly, against Japan, earlier this month. Cebolinha went to the end of the line and knows that he has many obstacles to overcome to play in the World Cup, starting in November.
Standing out at Flamengo can help, but the attacker himself knows that even that shouldn’t be enough. The striker Hulk, 35, has been having an excellent performance for Atlético Mineiro and has not touched Tite – in a position of greater need. So Everton was shy when asked if red and black could help him wear yellow.
“Oh, sure. But it wasn’t the main reason [pelo qual] I wanted to come back”, he said, interviewed by the official channel of his new club. “I wanted to return to Brazil because it was Flamengo. If I do a good job here, of course, I might be remembered. But the selection was not my first thought, but Flamengo.”
The team from Rio lives an extended period of instability. Newcomer Dorival Júnior is already the fifth coach hired since the departure of Portuguese Jorge Jesus – who directed Cebolinha at Benfica – in July 2020. Before thinking about selection, Everton needs to integrate into a turbulent environment and find its best. football.
Going to the Cup is highly unlikely at this moment, but it was also unlikely that the Ceará native from Fortaleza would be decisive in the 2019 Copa América. ) and David Neres, from whom he won the position during the tournament.
The competition ended with Cebolinha praised for his ability to dismantle defenses with his dribbling and his speed. He was treated as a darling of Tite, who celebrated the victory at Maracanã by thanking the then 23-year-old: “Who knew that Everton would play in the final and be chosen better on the pitch?”.
Again, few bet on it.
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