Kaka has shared that ‘most of the people’ in Brazil wanted Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus to start ahead of his Tottenham Hotspur rival Richarlison for Brazil at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as he told beIN SPORTS (27/11/22 at 6:35 pm).
That’s before the Tottenham summer signing proceeded to net a brace as Brazil opened their World Cup account by beating Serbia 2-0, with Jesus, sat on the bench.
Brazil legend Kaka added that Tite was proven right with his call and Arsenal’s leading man hasn’t been helped by the fact that, at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he didn’t score any goals.
In terms of technical ability, getting the best out of teammates and being able to be that creator, Jesus is probably better than Richarlison.
But the Tottenham man is seen as being more decisive and clinical than Jesus in front of goal, who has five Premier League goals for Arsenal this season following his summer transfer from Manchester City.
Nonetheless, Kaka was asked that, in England, Jesus would be picked ahead of Richarlison, but why it’s different on the international stage?
“Before we started, before the first game, most of the people in Brazil said the same,” said Kaka. “That probably Gabriel (Jesus) should start playing.
“But, after the first game, everybody says Tite was right to choose Richarlison. I think this is something that the coach needs to decide. He has got information and he has everything.
“I also think the 2018 World Cup was a great experience for Tite as well. He had Gabriel there. He played very well for what Tite asked him to do. But he didn’t score any goals at that World Cup, so this kind of thing sticks in the coach’s mind and decides to pick Richarlison over Jesus.”
RICHARLISON PROVING HIS WORTH
With Neymar injured and set to miss the group stages of the World Cup, and in truth, perhaps the rest of the tournament given how swollen his ankle looks, then it puts extra pressure on that forward line.
Not only does Richarlison become more important, but perhaps Gabriel Jesus comes into play and will start to earn more minutes.
Manchester United midfielder Fred is expected to replace Neymar in the XI, with West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta pushing in behind Richarlison, with Raphinha and Vinicius Jr out on the flanks.
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