Richarlison’s return to Finch Farm to bid an emotional farewell to his former colleagues tugged on the heartstrings, not only because the depth of feeling was etched across the Brazilian’s face but it made a refreshing change to see an Everton hero for once departing on good terms. The 25-year-old was pictured shaking hands with manager Frank Lampard and fellow South American Yerry Mina while there was also a shot of him with his arms around kit manager Jimmy Martin with red eyes like he’d been crying.
We’d expect nothing less from Richarlison, though, a player who has always worn his heart on his sleeve and whose numerous acts of generosity towards and enthusiastic interactions with the fanbase endeared him to Evertonians, who shared his passion for the game. The player who dubbed himself ‘Pombo’ (Portuguese for pigeon) seemed to have something of a knack for rubbing opponents up the wrong way, especially rival fans, so it will be curious to see how he is treated by his once adoring public in Walton now that he has flown from the Goodison Park nest.
On returning for his second spell in charge in 1990, the Blues’ most-successful manager Howard Kendall remarked that while his previous post at Manchester City was “a love affair”, Everton was like “a marriage”. At least after leaving as a player to go to Birmingham City in 1974, Kendall was able to return to the club (on no fewer than three separate occasions) but too often when the once darlings of the Gwladys Street have departed in the modern era, a poisonous jilted ex-style relationship has developed.
