Rafa Benitez will count on Richarlison to help make his controversial appointment as Everton president easier to digest for Goodison Park followers.
Everton’s decision to appoint Benitez as their new manager earlier this summer was met with criticism by a large section of the club’s fan base, given how legendary he is with the red half of Merseyside and fierce rivals Liverpool.
The Spaniard knows he got off to a rough start in the city where he has enjoyed a lot of success but one way to start beating those who are fiercely opposed to him is simply to get results.
Rafa Benitez (right) needs Richarlison (left) to shine in his debut season as Everton manager
Richarlison celebrates after scoring against Saudi Arabia at the Olympics on Wednesday
For some, that won’t be enough, but it’s at least a start.
Even under the much-loved Carlo Ancelotti, results and performances were mixed, putting the club in 10th place before Real Madrid called him in and urged him to return to the Spanish capital.
While Dominic Calvert-Lewin enjoyed his best season in front of goal, scoring 21 goals in 39 games, Richarlison missed big periods of the season and enjoyed small patches, scoring just seven goals in 34 Premier League games.
The 24-year-old has since been linked with a meeting with Ancelotti at the Bernabeu, who described the Brazilian as the “complete striker” in March.
Former Everton coach Carlo Ancelotti (left) reportedly wants to transfer Richarlison to Real Madrid
The 24-year-old struggled to maintain good form last season as Everton finished 10th
He rose to the billing last week after scoring an impressive hat-trick in 23 minutes in the first half against Germany at the Olympics – becoming the first Premier League player to score a hat-trick at the Games.
Then, on Wednesday, he scored twice as Brazil qualified for the men’s Olympic quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia.
But none of that would have been possible without Benitez’s help.
After a grueling Premier League season, which then saw him represent Brazil at the Copa America just a few weeks later – a competition Brazil would lose in the final – Richarlison admitted arguing with the Everton heir over letting him go to Tokyo to play. More football at the Olympics.
His involvement in Japan would miss him the start of the new campaign, leaving the Everton chiefs to deny him his wish as expected.
But with the opportunity to play in the Olympics not showing up often, Richarlison revealed that he enlisted Benitez’s help to make sure he gets what he wants.
Since then, he has continued to shine in the Olympics, scoring a hat-trick in his first match
Richarlison became the first Premier League player to score a hat-trick in games
Help Benitez convince Everton to let his striker leave and participate in Tokyo 2020
The Everton striker nodded back up front against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday
“You quarreled there, didn’t you?” Richarlison admitted. I spent the whole day arguing with Everton, with the director. I also called the new coach.
“It is very important for me to have this experience and become more mature because it will be important to me.”
With the Real Madrid threat looming and the highly-rated striker not supported, Benitez stepped in and helped convince his new club to let him go to Tokyo and represent his country.
After controlling what could have been an awkward summer situation, Benitez asked Richarlison to return the favor once he returns from the Olympics later this summer.
“I’ve been in contact with him, he had the Olympics in the back of his head, and we needed to sort out his situation and he’s fine,” Benitez said. The club’s official website.
“He’s glad he can go there… and he knows he has to give us something back because we were so supportive.
Benitez says the striker should return the favor to Everton after granting him his Olympic wish
‘Who – that’ [not being involved at the start of the season] It could be something that we wouldn’t consider great at first but it will be a huge support for us in the rest of the season because he will try to achieve it.
If Richarlison returns to Merseyside happy and with a gold medal in his pocket, it could turn out to be a major hit from Benitez in a season he will need most.
Shooting Richarlison alongside Calvert Lewin and his buds will surely help the Spaniard improve Ancelotti’s finish in his first season at Goodison Park.
And while it would take almost a miracle for Everton fans to forget Benitez’s ‘little club’ comments and Liverpool’s past, getting the Toffees to sing on the same hymn sheet would certainly be a good start.
The release of the Brazilian striker will help Benitez unite the Toffees fan base over time
