Source: Daily_Mail
The Saturday interview: Jo on why he's happy to feel wanted at Everton
Jo heard the whispers, the rumours at Manchester City that maybe, just maybe, this Brazilian was not all he was cracked up to be.
He was met by confrontation at every turn, sized up by the coaching staff when struggling to find his form after signing for £18million from CSKA Moscow, where he had scored 30 goals in 50 league appearances.
The legacy of the Olympic Games in Beijing, where Brazil eventually finished third, beginning life in the Barclays Premier League without a pre-season and adapting toanother new country were all forgotten during City's sluggish start.
Instead, the 22-year-old was on the fringes of the first team, scoring just one goal in six Premier League starts for City.
'People were saying I wasn't as good as I was meant to be, but a lot of people didn't give me time and patience I needed,' he admitted.
He wishes he could have reminded them what they were missing for Everton in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United last month, but he was cup-tied after making a 20-minute substitute's appearance in City's 3-0 third-round defeat by Nottingham Forest.
Tomorrow he will be back in Everton's team to face Sunderland, looking to add to the five goals he has scored for his new club as they aim to overtake fifth-placed Aston Villa.
'There was not enough time to settle in and once I was settled I didn't get the opportunity,' he added. 'Some key players were out at the start of the season and there was pressure on some of the others, but it didn't bother me. City have a big projectand it will take time for it to work.'
Premier League rules prevented him playing against City in an unexpected 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park last week, denied the chance to remind Mark Hughes that he is astriker with something special.
He has averaged a goal every other game since the loan move to Everton in January, all of them at home, yet his ceaseless display against Chelsea in his last appearance underlined his potential.
Jo should have scored, first denied by Petr Cech and then slipping in front of the Chelsea fans in the Matthew Harding Stand just as he was on the backlift with another.
Settling in nicely: Jo has scored five league goals in nine appearances since joining the Merseysiders on loan
By his own admission, he is not the traditional Brazilian striker.
'When Brazilians do a trick the crowd goes wild,' he said. 'I don't think about doing the spectacular, I try to use my ability for my role as a goalscorer.'
Despite this modest appraisal, Everton manager David Moyes described him as the player money could not buy after his performance during their gritty 0-0 draw with their FA Cup final opponents, a display laced with conviction if not composure in front of goal.
'Everton have not got the money to buy him, you need Chelsea's owners to be able to afford him,' admitted Moyes, who tried to sign him last summer from CSKA, only to be gazumped by City.
Jo loves life at Everton and is adapting to his new club, but there are still things he finds hard. He has a young daughter back in Brazil from a previous relationship and sees her when he can.
His family are supportive, with his father and other relatives regularly making the long-haul flight from Sao Paulo to London and visiting him for a week at a time at hisapartment in Wilmslow, Cheshire. He also recognises the support they have given him in his career development.
'There are players from Brazil who have had a hard upbringing, without families and they are from rough neighbourhoods,' he added. 'I'm not from a wealthy family. My dad was a taxi driver, my mum cleaned houses, but we didn't have it bad. My dad was great, taking me to training with Corinthians when I was young and they played a veryimportant role.'
One lasting reminder of his childhood is the scar on his forehead, acquired after he ran into a wall while out playing with his cousin.
At City he was part of the Gang of Three with Elano and Robinho until he was offered an escape route by Everton.
'When we are not training with our clubs we try not to talk about things that are going on at either of them, but sometimes they speak to me about their frustrations.
'City are a team in transition, so they have to be patient. I'm really happy at my new club and I'm starting to adapt to English football,' he added. 'I've been given the chance to play and that wasn't the case at City. I love life here.'
He settled quickly at Everton, scoring twice on his debut against Bolton, adding another in the 3-1 victory over Stoke and then two more in the 4-0 win over Wigan earlier this month. There are new friendships with captain Phil Neville and striker Louis Saha.
'I feel more comfortable at Everton because they have given me a chance to settle into my surroundings. I joined City without doing a real pre-season because I had to go to the Olympics and when I got there the Premier League season had already started.
'There was no chance to get into the team. I don't feel the chapter is closed with City and if I return at the end of the season I'll do my best. Otherwise, I hope to stay withEverton. The way things are I really like Everton. I like the atmosphere and the culture. But if I have to go back I will try to fit in.'
Fitting in has not been a problem at Goodison, and for that Jo gives most of the credit to the Everton boss. 'I have a very good relationship with David Moyes and you cansee that,' he added. 'When I went to Everton I knew it was for a manager who wanted me because he had tried to sign me in the summer.
'I had other offers in January, but they knew my style and I knew how much they wanted me.'
Being wanted has ultimately made all the difference.
