Tim Vickery has claimed that Tottenham transfer target, Richarlison, reminds him of a ‘racehorse that plays in blinkers’, as he told Sky Sports News.
The South American football expert has also admitted that it is ‘lovely to be wrong’ about the Everton forward, after questioning whether he was initially good enough for Premier League football.
Back in 2017, then-Premier League side Watford paid Brazilian side Fluminense £11 million (BBC Sport) for Richarlison’s talents, as he arrived in English football as an unknown figure and a very raw talent.
And fast forward to today and the 25-year-old could be heading towards the Champions League, with Spurs keen to bring the £35 million star on board, as the club’s sporting director, Fabio Paratici, is a ‘big fan’ of the player.
From Brazil to Argentina, Vickery is one of the best in the business when it comes to South American football, as he shared this insight on Richarlison.
“Sometimes, it’s lovely to be wrong,” said Vickery. “I used to watch him every week in Rio when he played for Fluminese.
“When Watford came in for him ‘no, no, this isn’t going to happen’. And it happened wonderfully well. They made huge use of him and made a huge profit on him. He’s continued at Everton and is a goal threat.
“Richarlison reminds me a lot of a racehorse that plays in blinkers. That’s what he is doing. He’s looking at the goal. It’s another reason why Brazil don’t like to play him as a nine because his back to goal build-up play isn’t great.
“He wants to look at the goal and wants to charge towards the goal. He is one of them people with almost super-human determination – I suppose he might think the thing that will make him happy now is a move to someone bigger than Everton.”
IS RICHARLISON GOOD ENOUGH TO ELEVATE TOTTENHAM?
In terms of his passion, aggression and determination, Richarlison suits Antonio Conte down to the bone and he mirrors the Tottenham boss out on the pitch.
From that perspective, Spurs fans will enjoy watching the Brazil star in action and Conte won’t have to demand too much from him because he will already be providing it all himself.
But, in terms of pure quality, does he elevate this Spurs side now heading towards the Champions League? The versatile forward is certainly good enough for the club.
Added with that, he has proven during his time at Goodison Park and in the heat of the battle on Merseyside that he is the one to step up and produce in difficult moments.
That was proven by his six goals from his last nine Premier League matches that helped the Toffees secure their Premier League safety, so perhaps he is worth splashing the cash on.
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