Well, even if it was flier. All the way from the other side of the world. The lad knows about it now. Everton Soares. Fresh from scoring in Gremio's victory over Chapecoense last night. Brazil's latest attacking sensation was asked about thoseManchester United rumours...
"We've all ended up hearing these rumours, right?" shrugged Everton, still on the pitch after the 2-0 win. "I'm living in an exceptional phase and we know it's difficult (to focus) when English clubs are in Brazil, looking at the quality of Brazilian players here.
"But we'll see what they come up with at the end of the season. And we'll see what will be best for me and for Gremio."
So he knows about the rumours. The news that broke in the UK over the weekend. But there wasn't any real confirmation that United had been in contact, never mind had submitted a £30m offer - as has been claimed.
Indeed, intermediaries close to United have told this column, while there is an interest, talk of a bid is well wide of the mark. Before all this United buzz, we'd been told it was more likely the Blue half of Manchester which would welcome Everton to England rather than United.
Y'see, City have been following Everton since he was a junior running around for local team Fortaleza. At 12, City made an attempt to ferry him to England, only for red-tape regarding youth team signings to thwart their plans. Instead, Everton was snapped up by Gremio and has since managed to work his way through the labyrinth of competitions and age levels that every kid aiming to make it must overcome in Brazil.
Even after losing him to Gremio, City kept tabs on the young forward through Rui Costa, the Brazilian club's former sports director. Interestingly, the now Atletico PR exec is also a regular visitor to United.
A decade on and Everton is now part of Tite's Brazil squad, a first-choice for Gremio coach Renato Gaucho and has Manchester calling ahead of the January transfer window.
But as he hinted last night, Gremio have manouevered themselves into a strong bargaining position. The departure of Arthur Melo to Barcelona last summer means there's no pressure to sell come January. And further strengthening their hand was Romildo Bolzan Junior, the club's canny president, pre-empting the commotion we see today by upgrading Everton's contract only in August. The striker's deal now running to 2022 and it's buyout clause doubled from €30m to €60m.
Romildo could see it all coming, declaring in April: "The prospect is that Everton will explode this year, you can see he is threatening to.
"If we want to win anything this year, we have to keep Everton all year round. All of this is very clear to us. We always must put our sporting gains ahead of what a player can make for us."
A couple of months later and Everton was extending his contract by two years - just before a first post-World Cup call from Tite.
"He deserves it," declared Renato upon announcing Everton's first chance with the Selecao. "He has stood out in every way for our team. His biggest award was Tite's recognition. I'm sure he will continue to give joy to our fans and Brazilian fans.
"He is a player who, at 22, lives a great moment and has his future ahead of him."
19 goals from 50 appearances so far this season suggests an impressive, if not prolific, attacking ability. And for those close to Everton, it's his all round game that sets him apart from other strikers in the Brasiliero.
His agent, the local heavy-hitter Gilmar Veloz, likens his client to a "young Luis Figo".
"Everton is a different striker to those in Brazilian football. He plays in the style of Figo, when he was in his early twenties," says Veloz. "And he is a scorer, this is his great differential."
For his part, Everton agrees. The forward confessing to being a fan of the Premier League and one player in particular - who you could argue does bear a likeness to Figo.
"I always try to inspire myself by watching great players. In the World Cup there were several. Eden Hazard, from Belgium, played some great football. Against Brazil, he was the best on the field for me, partly tactical and technical. He resets himself and, when he needs to attack, he attacks," says Everton.
"It's always good to study such players."
Which he could soon be doing up close, if either Manchester club confirm that flier thrown up by the English press over the weekend. Closer to January, it may not just be rumours of a United bid Everton is having to respond to on national television.
