Richarlison has explained the decision behind snubbing the offer from Chelsea to sign for Tottenham Hotspur in this summer’s transfer window in a recent interview.
The Brazil international forward was a top target for the Stamford Bridge camp who were on the hunt for attacking reinforcements to bolster their front line ahead of the start of the new campaign.
Spurs, however, ended up pipping their local rival Chelsea to landing Richarlision’s signature from Everton with the player claiming in an interview with FourFourTwo that a phone call with Spurs boss Antonio Conte was key to sealing the transfer.
“I was on holiday in Brazil when I heard that Tottenham had made Everton an offer.
“I was happy, because they are a huge team. Then it was all about the clubs negotiating a deal, and fortunately everything went well. Antonio Conte called me during the negotiations and expressed how much he’d like to have me on board – that was vital for my decision.
“I know Chelsea made an offer, and I believe Arsenal also contacted Everton to ask about my situation, but Spurs came in and paid the fee, you know? It’s as simple as that.
“Everton had to sell some players to avoid a Financial Fair Play problem, and the negotiations were very brief, to be honest. I signed the contract during my holiday in the Pantanal [a remote region of Brazil].”
Chelsea, meanwhile, had to contend with bringing in Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to add to their attacking ranks under the management of then-Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Sterling has enjoyed a great start to life in west London while deadline day arrival Aubameyang, who was Tuchel’s long-standing target in the market, yet to hit the ground running on his return to the Premier League.
