Everton sold him for €18m and left Moyes with one striker, now Fiorentina can’t sell him either

Beto‘s €18m move from Everton to Fiorentina is going badly wrong, and neither side of the deal looks great right now.

Selling the striker in the summer made sense on paper. Beto was never prolific on Merseyside or especially loved by the fans, and €18m was decent money. The problem is what it left behind. When the deal for Folarin Balogun didn’t get over the line on deadline day, Thierno Barry was left as the only recognised striker in David Moyes’ squad.

Two months on, Moyes would probably like Beto back. And Beto might well wish he had stayed at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Why is Beto struggling at Fiorentina?

According to Fiorentina Uno, the Viola squad is falling short of expectations this season, and the attack is one of the biggest worries. Moise Kean’s departure left a big gap, and the players brought in to fill it haven’t delivered.

Beto is described as the “primary concern” among them. He hasn’t scored yet, and he hasn’t shown the things Fiorentina paid for: his physicality and his runs in behind the defence. Even his appearances off the bench have been unconvincing.

The coach has tried to protect him in public, but patience is running out in Florence, and the fans are starting to lose faith in the summer signing.

Why can’t Fiorentina just move him on?

Even if they wanted to, they can’t. Beto has already played for Everton and Fiorentina this season, so he can’t play for a third club until next season. That leaves sporting director Fabio Paratici with one option: find a way to make it work. Fiorentina want the striker who impressed at Udinese and had his moments in England, and right now there’s no sign of him.

Do Everton regret selling Beto?

Not because of the money. The €18m was a fair price for a striker who was never prolific on Merseyside. The regret is about the numbers. Everton went into the season with one senior striker and a January plan built around loans and frees, and the late scramble that ended the window, which we covered in our verdict on Everton’s chaotic summer, is why.

The sale only works if the replacement arrives. It didn’t. Everton were edging towards Balogun as the window closed, and when that fell through, the cover went with it.

Verdict: a deal that has hurt both clubs so far

Everton have the cash but not the cover, and Fiorentina have the striker but not the goals. For Moyes, the lesson is simple: don’t sell your second striker until his replacement has signed. For Beto, the next few months in Florence are a chance to prove he’s more than an expensive mistake, because he can’t play for anyone else until next season.