Everton star intervenes to stop 'angry' Beto in his tracks

Everton striker Beto has become Mr Happy after adopting a more positive approach to handling online trolls. At this season's outset, the £26million signing from Lisbon and Guinea international disclosed he was screenshotting messages from social media detractors in an attempt to feed off the negativity.

A nugget of wisdom from team captain Seamus Coleman led him to professional assistance for coping with the backlash - and at 27, Beto has morphed into a beloved figure among Goodison Park supporters.

Beto recalls: "I used to play with anger, but Seamus told me to stop taking the screenshots. He said 'I used to be like you, you're not going to get anywhere if you're just angry all the time'.

"For me, anger was good, but now I'm playing more at peace with myself. I don't care what some people say now.

"I got myself a mental coach. We speak a lot. I started to become more proud of myself, knowing that I'm capable of doing certain things that other players can't do. I just kept putting in my mind 'my time will come, I'm going to have my chance'.

"I came to realise that God blessed me. He put me here for a reason.

"I just need to keep doing my thing and don't worry about what everyone else is saying. The past is the past.

"I play more freely, I don't play trying to prove to people. In some games you're not going to play so good, but that's okay. Next game you can do better. I just needed to be at peace with myself."

Beto was over the moon when 40,000 supporters at Goodison Park chanted his name after a crucial 2-0 win against Southampton, marking an end to the stadium as the club's residence with high spirits.

As David Moyes' side gear up to spoil Newcastle's pursuit of a top-five slot and a Champions League place, Beto's success on the pitch is notable; Everton are unbeaten this season in matches where he's scored.

Beto's backstory has captured the hearts of fans - from working at KFC post-school to being spotted by URD Tires, then making a name for himself at Udinese before landing on Merseyside in the summer of 2023.

Beto reflected: "Maybe the fans like my history. I feel they think I am one of them. I am one guy, a normal guy, who started playing professional football in a different way.

"Some players, when you see their stories, you can see that it was really, really hard.

"Me, it wasn't so hard. I had a place to sleep, I had food, my mum did everything to get food on the table.

"Working was normal in Portugal when you reach 18 or 19. I didn't want to study anymore. I just wanted to play football, but I wasn't playing at a high level, so I needed to go to work.

"You cannot just stay at home and play football because you don't put money in the house and you don't help to pay the bills.

"For me it was a really normal thing to work - and I liked it a lot because I made some really good friends. I feel blessed because of it."