Richarlison: 'Everton suffering from a lack of ambition'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 17 September 2022

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Richarlison reveals that a "lack of ambition" from Everton was one of his key reasons for leaving the club this summer.

Former Everton striker Richarlison believes that a "lack of ambition" is holding the Toffees back from achieving success following his exit from Goodison Park.

The Brazil international arrived on Merseyside in a £35.2m deal from Watford in 2018 and quickly established himself as a key member of the Toffees' attack.

Richarlison registered 53 goals and 14 assists in 152 outings for Everton, but the Toffees are no longer challenging in and around the top seven European places.

The 25-year-old finished eighth in his debut season with the club under Marco Silva, but Everton have since recorded 12th, 10th and 16th-placed finishes in the division.

Having secured a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, Richarlison does not believe that Everton possess an "eagerness" to compete for silverware.

Richarlison in action for Tottenham Hotspur in July 2022 © Reuters

"It's always a tough call when you have such strong connections with your club, and that was definitely the case for me. I was happy at Everton and I'm grateful for everything I learned there. It's a big club with a lot of history," Richarlison told FourFourTwo.

"However, perhaps they're suffering with a lack of ambition nowadays. You know, that eagerness to win matches and trophies.

"I spent four years there and I could see there was still a very long way to go to achieve big things. I felt it was the right time to move on, and the club also had to make some money. It was a good deal for everyone involved. I'm delighted with this new challenge at Spurs."

Richarlison's final season at Goodison Park saw him amass 10 goals and five assists in 30 Premier League outings, ultimately helping Frank Lampard's side avoid a first-ever relegation from the Premier League.

The South American struggled with knee and calf injuries for a good chunk of the term, though, and he is keen to put that chapter behind him as he embarks on a new adventure in North London.

Everton's Richarlison on April 6, 2022 © Reuters

"It was a very stressful season, to be honest. We had a lot of injuries and the squad wasn't big enough to cope. I personally had some issues, too," Richarlison added.

"As soon as the previous Premier League campaign had finished, I played in the Copa America, then the Olympic Games, and then the Premier League started again. I had no break and sustained a few injuries during the season."

Richarlison has recorded two goals and two assists in seven outings for Tottenham so far, with both of those strikes coming in a 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille.

Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane started the season as Antonio Conte's front three, but Richarlison had demoted the former to the bench in recent weeks.

However, Son - who is still waiting for his first goal of the season - has taken up a spot on the bench for Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester City.