“Stay happy my friend” – they were four words of comfort from Richarlison to a tearful young Blue but they also seemed to be a farewell note to all Evertonians from the Goodison Park fans’ favourite. The Brazilian international has enthusiastically interacted with supporters for a long time now, with such activities helping him to improve his command of the English language, and having read mum Karolina Taylor’s tweet that showed her distraught little lad – crying like she did when Gary Lineker left – after she had told him that Richarlison looked like he was going to Tottenham.
Each generation of Blues it seems has these kind of moments whether it’s the sale of Lineker, Alan Ball, Duncan Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Mikel Arteta or Romelu Lukaku but while it remains to be seen how Richarlison’s legacy ultimately shapes up compared with those other Goodison greats of varying degrees, one thing that isn’t being disputed is his connection with Everton’s loyal but long-suffering fanbase. Lineker in particular was a very different case.
He arrived in 1985 at a time when the Blues were at their absolute pomp having just romped to the League Championship and lifted the European Cup-Winners’ Cup but had the unenviable task of replacing a Richarlison-esque talisman in the shape of Andy Gray. His solitary season with Everton would see the former Leicester City man plunder 40 goals for his club and then secure the Golden Boot at a World Cup finals but with no trophies secured and Howard Kendall’s side agonisingly finishing runners-up to neighbours Liverpool in both the First Division and FA Cup, Lineker was sold to Barcelona for £2.8million.
