Here in the first of a three-part special, Chris Beesley tells the Bernard story by speaking to those who have watched Everton's new Brazilian star closely throughout his career to date.

"Too small."

Two words that seem ridiculous when describing a footballer but all-too-often an arbitrary assessment when dismissing a player's chances.

Brazil's greatest footballing talent Pele once declared that football is the “beautiful game” and a large part of that charm is that it can be played by, and excelled by, people of all sizes.

It isn't rugby where you have to be a hulking mass or basketball where it helps to be seven feet tall, footballers are regular-sized guys, and girls.

Lionel Messi is now regarded by many as being the most talented player ever to walk the earth – he stands just 5ft 7in high (and would have been considerably shorter had Barcelona not agreed to help aid him with a growth hormone deficiency as a teenager).

His Argentinian compatriot Diego Maradona is a mere 5ft 5in.

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And the latest darling of Evertonians, Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte is little more than 5ft 4in in his stocking feet – but then of course some of the best things come in small packages and Blues fans are already finding that out.

(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Unlike in the UK, where physical prowess on the pitch has often been valued over technical ability, you wouldn't expect such 'sizest' prejudice to exist in Brazil, the home of so many silky players but that's exactly what happened to Bernard as a youngster.

Held back by height

Thiago Fernandes, a journalist for EOL Esporte in Bernard's home city of Belo Horizonte, has followed the Everton man throughout his career and explains how the player had to face adversity because of his lack of height from an early age.

He told the ECHO: “Atlético Mineiro released Bernard twice when he was younger (in 2008 and 2009) for being too small.

“It happened when he was in the youth team. The former director (André Figueiredo) didn't like him because he felt he was too short.

“They thought his lack of height would prevent him from having a successful career.

“Before Bernard came to Atlético Mineiro, he was playing at a small academy called Comercial.

“He was impressive and people from there loved him – he was the most skilful player who came from there.

“A former coach from Mineiro insisted on having him and got him for his team.

“There was a friend of his family, Rubens Martins, who helped them to keep Bernard at Atlético Mineiro. He talked to a lot to people from Atlético Mineiro about Bernard's qualities and finally they gave him a chance.”

Bernard breaks through

(Image: JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Before he made his first team debut, a teenage Bernard spent the 2010 season on loan at lower division club Democrata in the city of Sete Legoas (Seven Lagoons) some 45 miles north of Belo Horizonte.

Thiago believes that this provided a crucial breakthrough for the player.

He said: “Often, Atlético Mineiro send youngsters on loan to Democrata and Bernard was one of these players.

“He was there to play in the Campeonato Mineiro, a regional league and he was impressive.

“When he was there, a Brazilian agent presented a offer from Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia but Mineiro refused it.

“Bernard was the best player in Democrata and his development there was really important, because it was his first time in a professional team.”

Right-back debut

Following his successful loan spell, Bernard made his senior bow for Mineiro in the unusual position of right-back but would eventually make his mark on the other side of the pitch in the left wing role he has recently been fulfilling for Marco Silva's side.

Thiago said: “Bernard came back to Atlético Mineiro and the head coach there Dorival Júnior used him as a right back.

“At that time, Bernard wasn't ready for such an experience, being used mainly as a right back and he went back to youth team and won the Taça BH, a tournament for players under the age of 20.

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“In August 2011, Atlético Mineiro hired Cuca as head coach and he used Bernard a lot in his formation.

“Bernard started to play as a left winger and he became a star in 2012 when Atlético Mineiro were runners-up in Brasileirao (The Brazilian League).”

(Image: JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Partnership with Everton old boy

Playing in that same Mineiro side alongside Bernard were a couple of well-known names, former Brazil World Cup star Ronaldinho and Everton old boy Jo, who had two loan spells with the Blues before having his time at Goodison Park cut short by then-manager David Moyes for an unauthorised pre-Christmas trip back home.

Thiago said: “Ronaldinho was very important for Bernard who was the best young player in 2012 beside Wellington Nem of Fluminense, who would go on to join him at Shakhtar Donetsk.

(Image: AIZAR RALDES/AFP/Getty Images)

“Playing as a left winger, he was the top scorer from Atlético Mineiro with 15 goals and 12 assists.

“His year was really impressive. Everyone at Atlético Mineiro loved him, the supporters, the other professionals... everyone.

“Jô and Ronaldinho helped him to become a star at Atlético Mineiro. They were always together.”

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The following year, which was to be Bernard's last with his home city club, saw him go out on a high as he helped them to win the Copa Libertadores – South America's equivalent of the Champions League – for the first time in their history.

Mineiro clinched the trophy with a hard-fought victory over three-times winners, Paraguayan club Olimpia, coming back from a 2-0 first leg defeat in Asuncion to win 2-0 on home turf before triumphing 4-3 on penalties.

The Bernard Story Part Two Part Three

Bernard's role changed again but Thiago explains that he thrived in what proved to be a glorious season.

He said: “When Diego Tardelli moved to Atlético Mineiro in February 2013, Bernard started to play as a right winger and he was really important in the Libertadores campaign.

“He scored a important goal against Newell's Old Boys of Argentina in semi-finals and winning the title gave acknowledgement to Bernard.

(Image: Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images)

“It was the third continental title for the team but previously they had won the CONMEBOL Cup twice (the equivalent of the Europa League) which is now called Sudamericana.

“It was the first Atlético Mineiro title in the Libertadores so it was really important for this team.

(Image: Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images)

“Bernard was quite impressive in this campaign and the victory changed Atlético Mineiro's standing in Brazil.

“Now they are regarded as a huge team alongside the likes of their city rivals Cruzeiro, Flamengo, São Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, Grêmio, Santos, Vasco and Internacional.

“Bernard became an idol for the Atlético Mineiro fans and people love him here nowadays.”