Everton manager Marco Silva has defended his decision for the club to sign Richarlison.
The Brazilian international arrived at the Toffees from Watford during the summer transfer window in a deal worth £40 million. The Hornets ended up making a healthy profit on a player whom they had signed last summer in a £11.2 million deal from Brazilian club Fluminense.
Last season, Richarlison went on to play 41 times in all competitions for Watford and scored five goals. He played in all 38 of Watford’s Premier League fixtures and all of his goals came in the League.
Richarlison arrived at Vicarage Road while Marco Silva was managing the club and he was largely impressive during the first-half of the season while playing under the Portuguese boss. During this time, many pundits tipped the player to go on and play for a bigger club during the summer transfer window.
However, the former Brazil U-20 international’s form dipped during the second half of the season.
As a result of this, many fans of Everton will be mixed with regards to whether Silva was correct to fork out to sign the player. While Richarlison certainly has potential and can thrive under the right conditions, he is not fully tested in the Premier League.
It is now up to the player to prove himself at Goodison Park and prove all of his doubters wrong. He has a good record working under Silva and Everton fans will certainly be hoping that this can help the club to challenge for a strong finish on the top half of the standings this term.
While speaking ahead of his sides Premier League opener against Wolves, Silva spoke out on the signing of Richarlison and he said as reported by Sky Sports: “I can speak to you about what happened one year ago when we took Jordan Pickford and everyone was talking about it at that moment,”
“Now no one is talking about his value. The value that the club paid to take him here is normal in football. The market now is really difficult.
“If the player will perform well and do the best to achieve our goals at the end no one will speak about the price.”
Richarlison proved his doubters wrong this weekend as he scored a brace for Everton who claimed a 2-2 draw against newly promoted side Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molyneux on Saturday.
If he carries on his form throughout the season, he could go on to establish himself as a key man for Everton and also as one of the most feared players in the Premier League.
