'Little Onion' oozing Brazilian flavor

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil - When Neymar was ruled out of the Copa America with an ankle injury just over a week before the big kickoff, there was reason for host Brazil to despair.

But one player more than any other has brought back the old "samba magic" to the Selecao ranks, and that's Everton - a player reportedly courted by both Manchester clubs, City and United, and Paris Saint-Germain.

The dynamic 23-year-old winger has been a revelation for Brazil since earning a starting berth in its final Copa America group game against Peru.

He had already scored the third goal in a 3-0 win over Bolivia in the tournament opener after coming on as a substitute.

After a dire 0-0 draw with Venezuela, Everton and Gabriel Jesus were promoted to Brazil's starting XI, with the former rewarding coach Tite with another goal and a swashbuckling performance down the left.

In his home stadium in Porto Alegre, where he plays for Gremio, Everton was the one player who lifted the crowd onto their feet every time he got the ball in an otherwise frustrating blank against Paraguay in the quarterfinals, before Brazil won on penalties.

"He's the one who opens up the marking, who faces up to it," said Atletico Madrid leftback Filipe Luis, who has linked up well with Everton. "Those who benefit are those players playing close to him."

That's a move that will likely materialize once this tournament is over for the player nicknamed Cebolinha, meaning little onion - a reference to his likeness to a cartoon character of the same name due to the tuft of hair on his otherwise shaved scalp.

His popularity with Brazil fans has been enhanced further by the fact he's one of just three national team players plying their trade at home.

The other two - reserve goalkeeper Cassio and second-choice fullback Fagner - have yet to feature, meaning Everton is the only home player gracing the Copa America that local fans are able to watch at close quarters.

Although that is almost certain to change soon enough.

"He's a player who's ready to play in Europe," said Filipe.

'Audacious'

After Everton's scoring cameo against Bolivia, one of the most respected soccer journalists in Brazil, Juca Kfouri, wrote that "Everton must start for the Selecao".

"You have to have the courage to pick those that have the audacity to play football," he added.

Everton doesn't quite have the wing wizardry of one of Brazil's greats, Garrincha, but his bustling, powerful running and impressive close control are mightily effective, as is his ability to cut inside and shoot.

Similar to right-footed Arjen Robben, who likewise operates on the opposite flank to the one he should naturally occupy, Everton has been particularly dangerous cutting infield to shoot with his right boot.

Both his goals at the Copa have resulted from that maneuver. He fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner against Bolivia, and beat Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese with a drilled low effort to the near post.

"That's one of my characteristics, I like to cut inside," Everton said after his goal against Venezuela.

"I feinted to shoot twice and then hit it hard, giving the goalkeeper no chance."

That was his first goal for the national team, in his seventh appearance, many of which had been as a substitute.

"I really wanted to score that first goal; I was starting to beat myself up about it and get very impatient," he said.

Two matches later he had his next one and now a starting berth in Tuesday's semifinal against Lionel Messi's Argentina would appear to beckon.

After the tournament concludes on Saturday, a move to Europe looks likely.

Everton has a release clause of around 60 million euros ($68 million) in his contract.

A story in Monday's edition of Italy's daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Manchester City has already made an initial offer of 40 million euros plus bonuses to Gremio.

The story also claimed that the English Premier League champion has a "contract ready" for the attacker which will run until 2024 and be worth 4.5 million euros per year.

City could be in the market for a replacement for German winger Leroy Sane, who continues to be linked with a switch to Bayern Munich.

Agence France - Presse