Tim Vickery has claimed that Richarlison ‘runs the risk’ of possibly missing out on Brazil’s starting XI after his transfer to Tottenham from Everton.
The South American football expert added that Richarlison also might ‘lose momentum’ at a vital stage of his career if he doesn’t earn the regular minutes at Tottenham.
The 25-year-old likes to play on the left channel, it’s an area of the pitch he has taken up on a regular basis when in Everton colours and he would deploy a central role when Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasn’t playing.
But in north London, he is up against two players who are on another level compared to what he faced at Goodison Park.
Vickery shared his thoughts on Richarlison’s battle against Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son and why he won’t be able to fill the England captain’s boots, as he told Sky Sports News.
“The way the Tottenham front three have been operating, then there is no guaranteed place in the starting line-up for him,” said Vickery.
“I wouldn’t see him as a back-up for Harry Kane. He can’t do what Harry Kane does, drop deep and orchestrate the play. I would see him more as a competitor for Son because what he likes to do is Richarlison is cut in on the diagonal from the wide left.
“I suppose it’s a gamble that he has taken. Places in that Brazil starting line-up, even in that squad, it’s very, very competitive in the build-up to the World Cup and he’s guaranteed to be on the plane, at least.
“But he runs the risk, perhaps if he doesn’t get enough game time, of losing momentum at this vital moment in his career.”
RICHARLISON ADDS MUCH-NEEDED DEPTH
With Spurs returning to Europe, someone like Kane and Son can’t be playing week in and week out, especially with the high demands that Antonio Conte asks for.
So, from that perspective, Tottenham’s back-up options are much strong than what Conte had last season and in seasons gone by under Mauricio Pochettino.
Daniel Levy isn’t knocking on Fernando Llorente’s door anymore, but actually putting big money on the table to back the trophy-laden coach.
That says something because given that Richarlison won’t start from the get-go, it says a lot about Levy and where he thinks the club can head under Conte.
But could more new faces arrive? Well, it seems as though Djed Spence is edging closer to signing on the dotted line, whilst Spurs have been warned against signing Barcelona defender, Clément Lenglet.
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