Earlier this year, Everton’s Allan joined the likes of Bernard and Fred among the Brazilian players with bizarrely Anglican-sounding names in the Premier League.
And for Allan, his name isn’t the only thing which resembles traditional English characteristics.
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Despite growing up in Rio de Janeiro, where footballing flair seeps out from the streets, Allan just loves getting stuck in.
While his Brazil youth teammates Philippe Coutinho, Oscar, and Willian were likely fixated on Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Allan was probably more interested in the likes of Gilberto Silva and Edmilson as a child.
Asked whether football was like a religion in Brazil’s capital during that glorious era, Allan tells talkSPORT.com: “Undoubtedly. I always wanted to be a football player, I was always playing football with my friends.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of and worked towards, so I’m really happy to be where I am today, playing in the Premier League and wearing the Everton shirt, and also to be putting on the shirt of the Brazil national team. It’s a dream come true for me.
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“Experience with the national team, even at U20 level or youth level, you really gain confidence and strength from playing with these type of players.
“It contributes to your work and your development. You work and learn by being alongside important players, famous players who are household names in world football, so without a doubt it’s helped a lot.”
It took a year, but Everton have finally replaced Idrissa Gueye – and perhaps even got an upgrade.
Now the Toffees have that midfield bite they sorely missed last season, but Allan is so much more than that.
Due to his fairly small stature, it’s his timing of the challenge which makes him so good, rather than brute force.
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And once he wins the ball, his technical ability allows him to beat players and become a playmaker.
How many other defensive midfielders do you know with a reputation for regularly nutmegging opponents?
For the last eight years, Allan enhanced his reputation as one of the best midfielders in Europe during his time in Italy.
He continues: “I had great seasons in Italy in the Udinese shirt and with Napoli. I’m really happy with what I achieved there.
“I learnt a lot as a football player, but also as a person. I grew a lot from being in Italy and I hope I can continue this in England, playing great games for Everton and winning the hearts of the Everton fans.”
One heart he has certainly captured is that of Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was desperate to sign Allan following their brief spell together in Naples.
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The midfielder admits he has a special relationship with the Italian – and Allan is flattered to have such a famous admirer.
“Working with Ancelotti is fantastic,” he adds. “To work with someone who has won all the major trophies is marvellous.
“You learn a lot from him every day in training. I’m really proud that a coach of that pedigree, who has had such a career, likes me and admires my football.
“Hopefully together, here at Everton, we can achieve the things this club deserves.”
To that end, the Toffees flew to the top of the league in the early weeks of this campaign, but points haven’t been so easy to come by recently.
Allan’s performance levels haven’t dipped, though, and only Southampton’s Oriol Romeu has made more successful tackles than Everton’s new destroyer in the Premier League this season.
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As a player known for actually celebrating tackles, the former Udinese and Napoli man has taken to the English top-flight like a knife to butter.
You can bet the 29-year-old is relishing a good old-fashioned battle with hard-hitting Burnley on Saturday – which you can hear live on talkSPORT.
He adds: “The settling in and adaptation has been really relaxed and easy. It’s not just my South American teammates who have helped, my English teammates have also given me a lot of help, and the club give you all the necessary support to do you job.
“The Premier League is a competition with a lot of contact, very competitive and very intense. Without a doubt, my game is suited to the Premier League style.
“We’ve studied them [Burnley] a lot, we know what the qualities and strengths are of the opponent, so it will be a very physical game.
“There will be a lot of battles on the pitch and I hope that we can control the game and it’ll be a good victory for us and we get the win that we’re all hoping for.”
Download the talkSPORT app and listen to Burnley vs Everton this Saturday at 12:30. You can also listen through the website here
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