The Toffees and Brazil ace arriving at Goodison Park for a reported £40m ‘spoiled the window’, Merson said last summer.
Everton forward Richarlison has given his opinion on the criticism which came their way following his move to Goodison Park from Watford and appeared to hit back at Paul Merson following his bold comments on the transfer fee involved (FourFourTwo as quoted by the Liverpool Echo).
The Brazilian became Marco Silva’s first Toffees when joining from the Hornets in a reported £40million deal (Liverpool Echo) towards the end of July, reuniting the two after their prior stint working together at Vicarage Road.
Given the large sum involved for a player who had began brightly at Watford following his 2017 arrival from Fluminense but failed to hit the same heights after Silva left and the season went on, there was criticism from some quarters.
Merson is quoted by the Liverpool Echo as saying on Sky Sports on deadline day last summer: “I think [the Richarlison signing is] what’s spoiled the window if I’m being perfectly honest.
“I think that happened so early, and at £40m that set the benchmark. Teams then have gone, ‘Well if you’re getting £40million for him I want £60m, £70m, £80m, £90m and £100m. I think that’s the problem.”
As it turned out, Richarlison enjoyed a fruitful debut season at Everton, scoring 13 Premier League goals (Transfermarkt) and breaking into the Brazil senior team, including making the 23-man squad for this summer’s Copa America on home soil (CBF).
In conversation with FourFourTwo on the comments made in the wake of his move to Everton, he said: “I don’t really think about that. I left it for the fans, media and club to make their own analysis. I remember hearing one ex-player say that my fee would ruin the transfer market, which wasn’t very nice to hear.
“There were a few negative comments, but I chose to ignore them. The transfer fee was agreed between the two clubs and both agreed it was a fair price, so that was that and life moves on. I had to focus on training, playing well and giving my best to help the team win games and trophies. I had to represent my club properly on and off the pitch. That was my responsibility and always will be. Whether my club has paid £1 to sign me or £200m, I’ll always give absolutely everything for them.”
Everton fans will no doubt have enjoyed Richarlison’s comments on one of English football’s more outspoken pundits, but likely not as much as having seen him do his talking on the pitch over the course of the season, not to mention having the opportunity to do so for arguably the most illustrious national team in the world in a major tournament on home soil.
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