Tottenham star Richarlison has been branded a “joke” and the “worst player” in this season's Premier League following an awful debut campaign in North London.
The Brazilian joined Spurs in a £60m deal from Merseyside outfit Everton in the summer. Following a number of eye-catching seasons in the Premier League for the Toffees and former club Watford, he looked like the perfect signing to add competition to Tottenham ’s frontline.
Things could hardly have gone worse for the Richarlison. He has scored just three goals all season - only one of which has come in the Premier League.
The 26-year-old thought he had a moment to cherish as he netted a memorable equaliser for Spurs against Liverpool, only for Diogo Jota to fire in a winner for the Reds seconds later. talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino has savaged his performances by claiming no one has underwhelmed more than Richarlison.
He said: “If you said to me the worst player this season, right, the worst player for what he’s got - Richarlison. He’s been a joke this year, Richarlison.
“I don’t care if he’s been injured or gone away to a World Cup. Yesterday [in Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Aston Villa], he hardly tried a leg. He looked really disinterested.
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“I know that obviously Antonio Conte pulled him out about his performances or a bit about he’s not played well. I’ve played poorly in my career but there’s one thing about a lack of endeavour and effort and playing badly.
“Richarlison was the player last year that I felt was as responsible as anybody for keeping Everton up, his performances at the end of last season. He hasn’t shown any of that at Spurs.”
Cascarino added that Richarlison has simply not done the job that Spurs expected of him in threatening to disrupt Harry Kane and Heung Min-Son. Of his 33 outings for the side this term, just 17 have been from the start.
“You can play poorly, that can happen to footballers, many of us have been there,” Cascarino added. “You have a poor time.
“He looks like to me that he’s had a great move, he was at a very good football club in Everton. Then they get a £60m offer for him.
“Tottenham have gone after someone to really put pressure on their front three. Has he at any time put any pressure on their front three to have a starting spot in the team? I’d say no. He’s been hugely disappointing Richarlison.”
The striker has just a clutch of chances remaining to end his season on a positive note. Spurs’ final two matches of the Premier League campaign come against Brentford and Leeds and will hope to seal a European spot after seeing their Champions League challenge fall flat.
