“What is Portuguese for shithousery?” The interpreter laughs as he unpacks the question and then relays it to Evanilson, though judging by the broad grin on the Bournemouth striker’s face he has got the gist. The reason for the line of inquiry is because conversation has stuck on the perception of Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, best known as Pepe. The defender, who retired last August aged 41, perfected the role of pantomime villain during a distinguished playing career but proved a mentor to Evanilson, who became Bournemouth’s £40m record signing last summer.
“There is a side to him where he is really kind and helpful, but on the pitch it is a different story,” Evanilson says, smiling, punching his knuckles into his palm and pointing to his ankles as if alluding to battle scars, before explaining how the three-time Champions League winner helped him adapt after joining Porto from Fluminense in 2020. “Pepe was the best person in terms of guiding me where I wanted to go. He really embraced me and where I had come from because he was from Brazil as well. It worked out because the following year we were the Portuguese champions.”
