FROM BARBER TO FLAMENGO STAR! CHECK OUT THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF EVERTTON ARAÚJO

To enter the spotlight last Sunday (16), Evertton Araújo had to be strong not to give up after being released from two big clubs and also to resist the difficulties of lack of money. Or dodge them, for example by working as a barber. His life story, still at 21 years old, is very powerful.  The history of the steering wheel began in the Santa Cruz neighborhood. Just not the famous one in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Let's say the "poor cousin" in the interior, in the city of Volta Redonda. Youngest son of Seu Paulo and Dona Danielle, the boy from a humble family grew up like most young people who share the same reality: with the ball as his main toy.

He started playing at the age of 4 in the neighborhood blocks and at 6, when he was old enough, he was enrolled by his parents in a group at Roberto Dinamite's school, which was also in the neighborhood. And Evertton was a center forward at that time. Now the perfect movement of Sunday's header has been explained. It's like riding a bike, you don't forget. Speaking of bicycles, the vehicle played an important role in the beginning of his career. He was in the under-13s when he tried out for Volta Redonda, the city's team, and passed. His parents often didn't have the financial means to pay for bus tickets and, when they couldn't borrow one, the boy would cycle for about 25 minutes to go to training. He certainly arrived with heavy legs.

Furthermore, the reality at the club wasn't as plentiful as it was at the big teams. If, on the one hand, he had a good field structure and dressing room, on the other hand, he needed to pay for his own equipment, such as boots and shin guards. But his parents did everything they could to support this dream. Evertton's mother has already stopped making meals to have food for him and his older sister, Evillyn. A dream that twice seemed palpable. When he was in the under-15s, and had already switched from being a center forward to becoming a midfielder, a Cruzeiro scout took him to Belo Horizonte. But after almost a year at Toca da Raposa, he ended up being released. Disappointment smiled at him and then deluded him again. Upon returning to Rio de Janeiro, he managed to try out at Botafogo and stayed in the under-17s. But not for long: almost a year later, he was sent away again.

He returned to Volta Redonda, but discouragement struck. And during this vain period of adolescence, wanting to have money to help around the house and also be able to buy clothes and sneakers, he considered a plan B for his life: he took a barber course and started cutting hair, even though he didn't have a barber shop to work in. The services were provided at home or in the Voltaço CT itself. He charged R$10 to R$15 per cut. But a ray of hope didn't let him abandon football for good. In the under-17 team of Volta Redonda he changed position again, becoming second midfielder, and moving up to the under-20 team as first man in midfield. It was this function that drove away his previous nightmares and allowed him to dream again. In 2022, Evertton stood out for Voltaço in the Copinha and caught the attention of Flamengo.

Rubro-Negro offered him a loan contract of just four months, but it was enough to show his business card . After good performances, he became a starter in the under-20s and had 30% of his economic rights purchased for R$300,000. Last year, Flamengo was Brazilian champion in the category and in December exercised the option to purchase a further 40% of the player for R$800,000, renewing the contract until the end of 2026. The other 30% belongs to the player and his staff .