Uniao Tires president Fernando Lopes has urged Manchester United to prioritise a move for Everton forward Beto over Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres, claiming the Portuguese striker is better suited to the Premier League.
The Guinea-Bissau international, who started his career at lower-tier Portuguese outfit Uniao Tires, has been on the radar of several clubs this summer amid uncertainty surrounding his future at Everton.
With Manchester United reportedly in the market for a striker, Lopes believes Beto offers qualities more aligned with the English game than Gyökeres, who starred under Rúben Amorim in Portugal last season.
“Everyone thought Amorim would sign Gyökeres as he had him at Sporting – but the Premier League is completely different to Portugal. Teams are more physical and compact at the back, it is quicker and more competitive,” Lopes said.
“Gyökeres 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.”
Lopes argued that Beto’s style of play would revive traits long associated with Manchester United’s historic success, especially from set-pieces and physical dominance in the final third.
“United always scored a lot of goals from set-pieces but haven’t had a proper striker for many seasons. Beto represents the typical old style, because of his physique, power and work-rate – plus he is very fast.”
He added that Beto could be a tactical asset for Amorim, should the Portuguese manager end up at Old Trafford. “He’d be like Amorim’s ace up his sleeve in a game of poker.”
