It's fair to say that Fabio Paratici's decision to sign Richarlison in a £60million deal from Everton initially divided the Tottenham fanbase. Starring in his four years at Goodison Park, the addition of the Brazil international didn't seem to go down too well with everybody of a Spurs persuasion.
However, that certainly is not the case now following the 25-year-old's starring role in Tottenham's start to the campaign. Having to make do with a role off the bench to begin with, Richarlison wowed on his full debut for the Lilywhites at the weekend in the 2-1 win over Fulham.
Four days later and the attacker was the hero with his late double sealing a 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille as Antonio Conte's men started Group D with all three points. He was the player on everyone's lips after the game and he looks set to be the talk of the town over the coming months if he continues to go from strength to strength in a Tottenham shirt.
Amid some of the doubts regarding his big-money transfer from Tottenham at the start of July, Paratici didn't have any at all and that has only benefitted Conte and his Spurs team. Speaking to SPURSPLAY about the club's start to the season and their transfer business, the Italian opened up on Richarlison's transfer to the club and explained why he was so keen to lure him to north London.
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"We are so convinced to buy him so far," he said. "This kind of style of football is, I think, is perfect for us. Not just technically speaking but [in terms of] character.
"He's a fighter, he has a big energy, he can play three positions in the forwards. He has great experience in the Premier League and national team for Brazil. I think it's really technically speaking an easy choice."
As well as discussing the deal to sign Richarlison, Paratici also opened up on some of the club's other deals. Asked about the addition of Djed Spence from Nottingham Forest, the managing director of football pointed to the age of the right wing-back and others in the squad as they look to build a team for the future.
"We sign players because we believe a lot in these players. Sarr, Spence and don't forget Bryan Gil, another young player," he admitted. "People forget sometimes that Sessegnon, Emerson, Romero, Kulusevski are just 21, 22.
"In this group of players, some are more ready, lucky to play more matches at the beginning of their career, and some are less ready because they arrive from the Championship like Spence or Sarr form Metz. So it's a bit difficult for them."
He added: "Sometimes we don't have the perception of how young these players are and for this reason they need work. We have to remember how good is Antonio's job in the last year.
"When you have players this age you have to work more. it's normal. We have young players like Emerson, Romero, Kulusevski, Sessegnon, Skippy who played a lot of matches."
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