‘I said no’ – Richarlison details Ancelotti reluctance to let Everton star play for Brazil
Everton forward Richarlison has explained how Carlo Ancelotti wanted to stop the Brazilian from joining up with his national team.
The 23-year-old picked up a knock in the Toffees’ game against Brighton earlier this season and it almost prevented him from joining up with his national side during October’s international break.
Speaking to Globo Esporte, Richarlison detailed how he went head to head with Ancelotti over his desire to play for Brazil.
He said, “I had sprained my ankle and it was kind of swollen and then Ancelotti arrived at the medical department and looked at my ankle like that and said ‘you are not going to the national team’.
“And then he asked the doctor to evaluate me and said that I wasn’t good. That’s where I picked up the fight. I said ‘no, I’m fine, I’m going to the game’.”
Luckily, Richarlison’s injury didn’t get any worse as the forward played over the international break and he has only missed league games this season through suspension.
You can understand Richarlison’s desire to play for his country but you can also understand Ancelotti’s reluctance to let his star forward leave considering how pivotal he is to Everton’s success.
Everton haven’t won a Premier League game without Richarlison in the side since he signed for the club in 2018 and this record was continued as the Toffees lost three consecutive games while the Brazilian served a three-match ban earlier this season.
If Ancelotti is to succeed in the long term at Goodison Park then Richarlison has to be kept fit and healthy as the side struggles without him.
But no player avoids injuries forever and he is just as likely to get injured playing for the Toffees as he is when he plays for Brazil.
Luckily it seems as though this disagreement did not create any kind of rift between Richarlison and Ancelotti which will be the main positive for Everton fans.
In other Everton news, former Toffee Michael Ball has criticised Ancelotti for constantly changing his side’s system.