Everton boss Marco Silva feels that people have already forgotten Richarlison’s price tag. The 21-year old Brazilian joined Everton from Watford this summer on a transfer fee of £40 million that could rise to £50 million. This made him the club’s most expensive player ever.
Richarlison began the Premier League well with three goals from as many Premier League matches. However, he was sent off in Everton’s third match against Bournemouth. The Brazilian received a three-match ban and will return today when Everton play Arsenal.
Richarlison’s performances for Everton was enough to earn a place in Brazil’s squad. He scored a brace in their win over El Salvador a few weeks back.
Marco Silva brought Richarlison to the Premier League from Brazilian club Fluminense. When Richarlison joined Watford, Marco Silva was the manager. Silva said, “I saw him and analysed him. Of course, when you sign one Brazilian player to come to the Premier League, sometimes you have doubts about adaptation. But Richarlison is a little bit different from the normal Brazilian player. He is a more physical player, he is not just good with the ball.
For him, it is not important the impact and if the defenders are strong or not. And he is a good footballer for his profile as a player. When I did what I did to sign him last season, he is one player I analysed a lot in Brazil. When he was a young boy, he played there. We took him to the Premier League last season, he joined us at our club, we did everything we could to sign him.
The market, of course, is really difficult because now you see you have to spend £60-70m to take a goalkeeper, which means the market is really difficult and sometimes looks crazy. It is really difficult here in the Premier League if you want to buy a player from another Premier League club, it is really difficult to achieve that.”
Marco Silva added, “I think Richarlison has put his price off his back, plays football, works really hard every day to play at this level and to impress his coach and team-mates as well as it is important for him.
Silva believes that Richarlison will enter in today’s match full of energy. He said, “He is doing well. Of course the game against Bournemouth was not the best for him. He has reacted well and it is important that he made his debut for the national team as well. Now he is able to play again to help our squad.”
In Richarlison’s absence, Everton haven’t won a single Premier League match despite playing both matches at home. They drew against Huddersfield Town and lost to West Ham last weekend. Everton are currently 12th in the Premier League and need a win today to be in a decent position in the League. However, beating Arsenal at their own turf won’t be easy. The Gunners will be full of confidence after winning four matches in a row.
