Richarlison could be set for a collision course with Everton over his international duties with Brazil, according to reports from The Mirror.
Speaking to ESPN, the 23-year-old spoke fervently of his desire to serve his country in a sporting capacity, with the Olympics and Copa America coming up for the national team. The Mirror noted that Richarlison would surely be a core option of Tite’s Brazil plans if his scoring form at club level continues.
Netting against Manchester City and Liverpool in consecutive fixtures, his tactical panache has seen him deployed as more of a forward option in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, picking up goals in his more central role in the process.
However, Everton may miss Richarlison for crucial fixtures as a result of international duties conflicting with the Toffees’ fixture schedule, much to the detriment of the club.
Speaking to ESPN, the forward acknowledged that he may be forced into picking one competition over another:
This year there’s the Copa America and there’s also the Olympics. It seems that the club doesn’t want to let me go [to both].
[They] just wants to release me to one, I think it’s for the Copa America, I don’t know. I was called up, I told them that I want to go to the Copa America and the Olympics, if I’m called.
Like it or not, I don’t know if I’ll have another opportunity for the Olympics because I’m in the age [bracket]. I want to play; I want to go.
Read Everton Verdict
The cliché that Richarlison cannot have his cake and eat it should be forgiven – the Toffees have every right to want to retain their key man.
Prestigious international competitions are part and parcel of the modern game, but picking one competition over another is a sensible compromise for all parties.
