MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 23:59:20| >> :120:4748:4748:

Richarlison: 'Everton suffering from a lack of ambition'

Richarlison: 'Everton suffering from a lack of ambition'
© Reuters
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.

ID:494891:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5060:

Click here for more stories about Richarlison

Click here for more stories about Tottenham Hotspur

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Harry Kane in action for Tottenham Hotspur on September 7, 2022
Read Next:
Harry Kane out to break Alan Shearer record against Leicester
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!