Who would have put money on Richarlison becoming Tottenham Hotspur‘s unlikely hero in their fight for survival? I doubt anyone will be throwing their hands up.
For the striker has remained a conundrum since arriving at the club back in 2022. He has too often flitted between the sublime and the ridiculous with no trace of any real consistency, leading supporters to declare him both underrated and overrated in the same breath.
He is difficult to define. He has often been a back-up option both down the middle and out wide, and has drifted in and out of the team. Richarlison has not nailed down a starting spot, nor has he looked polished enough to lead the line for a club on the cusp of disaster.
At £60million, he has been no resounding success.
Richarlison was poor against Sunderland last time out, but Roberto De Zerbi was partly to blame, having shunted him out to the wing and opted for Dominic Solanke as the focal point. It was the Italian’s first glaring error since taking charge, and shouldn’t be repeated.
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Richarlison must step up to save Tottenham
While he has been largely positive this campaign, Richarlison’s performance at the Stadium of Light showcased the flaws in his game. He has too often fallen short of stamping his authority on matches and could be accused of dropping his standards on Wearside.
After Tottenham’s woeful day, their chances of relegation, according to Opta’s supercomputer, rocketed. Leeds’ 2-1 victory at Manchester United on Monday night saw Spurs’ odds increase to 49.5 per cent. Their tally of one point from a possible 24 is dire.
Spurs’ 14-match streak without a win in the Premier League is their worst since 1935, and every player, including Richarlison, must shoulder the responsibility for that. It seems that only magic can bail them out now, but luckily, the Brazilian ace is renowned for conjuring it.
In this bizarre and wacky world of Tottenham, it is only fitting that one of their notoriously unpredictable players should become their best chance of beating the drop.
With 10 goals in total, including nine in the top-flight, Richarlison is Spurs’ top scorer this season. All but one of those goals have come when he has played centrally, and it was clear that his different role against Sunderland didn’t make the most of his strengths.
According to Sofascore, he took just 31 touches, carried the ball only four times and registered a pass accuracy of 38 per cent. He was just as poor physically, making zero tackle attempts and zero interceptions, while winning two of his seven ground duels.
Richarlison also surrendered possession 16 times. Nordi Mukiele had his number for much of his 62-minute outing, winning four of his seven ground duels between them.
That did not reflect well on the ace, on whom De Zerbi will be desperately counting.
Still, it is fortunate the 28-year-old relishes a fist fight. Avoiding relegation is akin to a barroom brawl, and Richarlison is certainly no stranger to scuffed knuckles, having helped Everton beat the drop in 2021-22 after scoring six goals in their final 10 matches.
He also refused medical examinations during the run-in, knowing full well they would have revealed he was carrying an injury. How badly Spurs need that spirit now.
Could Richarlison still leave Spurs?
It is especially damning that supporters have absolutely no reason to be encouraged.
Tottenham lack grit and guile in matches, and they are also painfully short on quality and composure. There is nothing to row in behind. While Richarlison has gone against the grain, such is his sheer fighting spirit and desire, he is too often standing alone.
Moving the system around him may as well be rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. The entire squad look overawed by the situation, with some players even worryingly detached, having seemingly resigned themselves to their fate. It belies their obvious talent.
A team that has forgotten how to win must do just that, and several times over, if they are to drag themselves back above that dreaded dotted line.
Richarlison is exempt from many of these criticisms. But as we know, at Spurs, nothing is simple. The ace could be the hero who keeps them in the Premier League, but his future beyond the end of the campaign is far from guaranteed. Could he be blamed for leaving?
He had been expected to move last summer, before being convinced to stay put by Thomas Frank, who had wanted him to compete with Solanke for the lone No 9 berth.
But Richarlison now has just a year remaining on his contract, and although Spurs have the option to extend his deal until 2028, his status in North London is uncertain. Clubs in Saudi Arabia and Brazil are keen, but he would likely prefer to remain in the Premier League.
Supporters would have mixed reactions if he departed.
As another campaign in which the connection between them and the squad has been stretched to breaking point ends, his undying commitment is needed more than ever.
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