Brazil record-breaker Richarlison sends a message to Real Madrid
FT Desk
- Updated: 22 Jul 2021 20:48 BST
- 4 min read
Brazil hero Richarlison sent an emphatic message to prospective employers Real Madrid that he really is good enough for the Liga giants.
The attacker was in sparkling form on Thursday with a stunning first-half hat-trick as Brazil opened up their 2020 Olympics campaign with a 4-2 win over Germany at the Nissan Stadium.
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Richarlison bagged his treble in just 23 minutes, scoring after seven, 22 and 30 minutes as Brazil blew away their European opponents to establish themselves as the favourites to win the tournament.
7' ⚽
22' ⚽
30' ⚽
What a start for @richarlison97 at @Tokyo2020!@CBF_Futebol | #StrongerTogether |#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/nGR2KIWLb8— Olympics (@Olympics) July 22, 2021
Everton winger Richarlison was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid earlier this month, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti keen to reunite with the Toffees star in the Spanish capital.
Ancelotti spent 18 months with Everton before jumping ship to Real Madrid following Zinedine Zidane's departure at the helm at Santiago Bernabeu, returning to the club he managed between 2013 and 2015.
HOW MUCH IS RICHARLISON'S PRICE TAG?
ESPN reported that the Italian wants Real Madrid to contact Everton over the possible transfer of Richarlison.
Is Richarlison good enough for Real Madrid?
Madrid are on the lookout for a new striker as Karim Benzema turns 34 later this year and the alternatives in the squad have failed dismally to pick up the goalscoring slack since Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2018 for Juventus.
However, reports of Richarlison joining were not met with too much enthusiasm from Madrid fans.
His goalscoring record since arriving at Goodison Park in 2018 for £45 million has not demonstrated that he is of Madrid’s calibre.
He scored just seven goals and provided just three assists last season under Ancelotti at Everton.
In total, he has 42 Premier League goals in four seasons in England – having originally played for Watford in 2017-18.
Richarlison's form for Brazil
Nevertheless, Richarlison’s performances for Brazil – where he has 10 goals in 32 senior appearances – shows that around better players he can flourish. He even scored in the final of the 2019 Copa America, albeit it from the penalty spot.
And on Thursday he became the first player in Premier League history to score a hattrick at the Olympics, an impressive feat.
🇧🇷 | Richarlison is the first Premier League player to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/dvqGoil5GE
— The Everton End (@TheEvertonEnd) July 22, 2021
Still only 24, Richarlison is not even close to reaching his peak yet and there is no doubt he boasts the technical and physical qualities that can scare even the best of defenders.
Madrid will certainly be watching on closely for the rest of the Olympics. Brazil next play the Ivory Coast before finishing up Group D against Saudi Arabia.
Read more about: La Liga, Premier League, Olympics Men, Everton, Real Madrid, Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Richarlison
