When Richarlison left Everton during the summer, tears were shed.
A photo emerged of him with the Blues’ legendary kitman Jimmy Martin. Richarlison was clearly emotional as he said his goodbyes at Finch Farm.
But it was his call to depart Goodison Park. He believed he needed to take the next step in his career and that was joining a Champions League club.
READ MORE: Richarlison blasts Antonio Conte and admits time at Tottenham has been 's***' since Everton move
In an interview with Four Four Two magazine back in September, Richarlison revealed he made the switch because of a 'lack of ambition' from the Goodison club. He also cited an 'eagerness to win matches and trophies' as another reason why he made the move to the capital.
“It's always a tough call when you have such strong connections with your club, and that was definitely the case for me,” he said.
“I was happy at Everton and I'm grateful for everything I learned there. It's a big club with a lot of history. Perhaps they're suffering with a lack of ambition nowadays.
“You know, that eagerness to win matches and trophies. I spent four years there and I could see there was still a very long way to go to achieve big things
“I felt it was the right time to move on, and the club also had to make some money. It was a good deal for everyone involved. I'm delighted with this new challenge at Spurs.”
But that new challenge has turned out to be the type of situation that Richarlison would have never envisaged. One in which he finds himself on the outside looking in.
The 25-year-old has also only started 12 out of his side's 25 games in all competitions so far this season, scoring twice. He recently started in victories over West Ham and Chelsea - both games under assistant boss Cristian Stellini when Antonio Conte was away recovering from gallbladder surgery.
It is a far cry from what the forward experienced during his time at Everton. He become a fan favourite on Merseyside with his dedicated and quality performances, not least in the closing stages of last term.
Of his 10 Premier League goals last season, six came in nine matches towards the end of the campaign, as pressure intensified on Everton at the foot of the table. He was the man for the big occasion and showed an incredible appetite for the fight.
He will go down as a Blues icon. His goal against Chelsea at Goodison back in May was the strike that filled all Everton supporters with the hope that their side would fight to avoid the drop.
While his effort against Crystal Palace sent Frank Lampard's team on their way to a famous victory that ensured they would be playing Premier League football this season. The scenes that followed at Goodison will live long in the memory.
But now the forward is facing the harsh reality that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. And his latest comments highlights the brutal challenge he is facing at his new club.
Speaking after his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan, Richarlison hit out at Conte for leaving him on the bench and said this season has been 's**t' for him.
“That’s what I didn’t understand, too [being a substitute]. It was going well, in a good sequence, two wins against West Ham and Chelsea,” he told TNT Sports Brazil.
“Suddenly, he put me on the bench, against Wolverhampton he put me on for five minutes. I asked why? They didn’t tell me anything.
“And, yesterday, they asked me to take a test at the gym, that if I was good I would go to the game and, at the time of the game, they left me on the bench.
“These are things that it is not possible to understand. Let’s see what he [Conte] will say tomorrow, but there are no fools here either, I’m a professional, I work every day and I want to play. There are minutes left, time left.
“This season, excuse the word, it’s been shit, because I don’t have minutes, I suffered a little with the injury. But, when I enter the field, I give my life. I came from two games well, I think that’s it, I think I should have played and I don’t have to cry about it.”
The battle now appears to be who will leave White Hart Lane first, Richarlison or Conte? Both seem to be doing their best to ensure they depart in the summer.
“Come home to Everton where you were loved & needed,” was one message to the Brazilian on social media on Thursday morning.
A return to the Blues appears unlikely. But what this does show is that Richarlison will never feel love like he did from Everton supporters again.
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