Richarlison was absent from Tottenham Hotspur’s squad for their penultimate preseason game against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday.
Manager Ange Postecoglou explained the Brazilian’s absence and told the media that he had suffered a knock and was missing from the squad as a precaution.
This news had worried a few supporters but reports soon came out that the striker’s injury was not serious and that he is likely to return to the first team in the very next game.
The 26-year-old endured a frustrating first season in North London plagued with injuries and inconsistent performances. He also only managed to score three goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites all season.
His club form often contrasted with his national-side form, fueling further frustration. He was notably one of Brazil’s best players in the midseason FIFA World Cup 2022 but almost looked like a completely different player in a Spurs shirt either side of the international tournament.
Richarlison will be hoping for a better time around this upcoming season as he will try to force his way into the new manager’s starting lineup. He will be required to put in consistently good performances to get in the team ahead of Spurs’ remarkable front three.
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The news of his quick return was confirmed when he was announced as part of the starting-eleven in Spurs’ last preseason game against Barcelona on Tuesday. The striker started the game and played over 70 minutes in their defeat to the Spanish giants.
The forward has been hitting the ground running in preseason as he looks sharp and fit. He scored a hattrick in Tottenham’s friendly against Lion City Sailors FC on July 26.
The knock may have been a setback though as it throws a spanner in the works of his fitness programme but is surely just a minor setback given the extent of the injury.
The Brazilian arrived in London in July last year from Everton for a deal worth around £60 million, including add-ons. Tottenham paid such a high price for him due to his impressive performances during his time at Goodison Park, where he played over 150 games for the club, scoring close to 50 goals.
But there is no doubt that the general excitement around the transfer died down after a poor season from him and many are questioning whether he was worth what Spurs paid for him.
Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign on August 13 against Brentford. A new season under a new manager gives Richarlison a new chance to prove his worth.
