Everton star Richarlison sends emotional message to fans as he exits for Tottenham
Departing Everton star Richarlison has sent a heartfelt message to the club’s fans as he makes his £60million move to Tottenham.
The Brazilian forward is on his way to north London after four years at Goodison Park in which he scored 53 goals in 152 appearances, and played a key role in keeping the club in the Premier League in 2021/22.
He had built up a strong bond with the fanbase in that time, particularly during the relegation battle this year and his exit is a big blow.
Backed into a corner by the financial situation at the club, a move needed to be pushed through before the 30 June deadline to add the profits to the balance sheets.
With the transfer confirmed the 25-year-old took to Twitter on Friday afternoon (1 July) to communicate directly with the supporters, writing: “It’s very difficult to say goodbye to a place that has become my home; fans who welcomed as if I were one of them; and a club that treated me kindly and helped me develop my sense of community and empathy. Neighter [sic] all the love I have is enough to thank you. Love you!”
Loss
The message shows that his decision to leave was not one that was taken lightly, but with the Toffees in the position they are it is perhaps not a surprise.
Had they been challenging for Europe like many would expect then chances are the former Watford man would have stayed longer.
But as an established part of the Brazil national team he felt he had to challenge himself in the Champions League at this point in his career.
It has to go down as a risk on his part since, although a relegation battle is not where he wants to be, he will face a fight to crack the starting XI under Antonio Conte every week, whereas he was close to a guaranteed starter for Frank Lampard, and with a World Cup on the horizon he needs to be playing.
Ultimately it was a move that needed to happen for the club to avoid financial penalties, and to give the manager any space to work in the transfer market.
But that doesn’t make it any harder for the fanbase to see a key player leave after he had embodied the scrap against the drop as much as anyone in the squad.
Richarlison responded to the incredible support that the blue half of the city provided in the latter weeks of the season just gone, and the support responded to him in turn.
The image of him holding a blue smoke canister aloft after scoring the winner against Chelsea will be emblematic of the fight under Lampard and won’t be forgotten in a hurry.