Just when Richarlison looked set for an exit, he produced a performance that could transform Tottenham’s entire season.
Tottenham’s pre-season narratives always seem to draw sharp lines between hope and uncertainty, but few stories have lurched as dramatically from crisis to celebration as Richarlison’s. The Brazilian striker, who arrived at Spurs amid fanfare and expectation, looked to be teetering closer to the exit than the hero’s podium after a troublesome last campaign.
Yet, as the curtain rose on a new Premier League season under Thomas Frank, Richarlison delivered a brace against Burnley, reminding everyone in North London why patience, not panic, might be the key to his story.
The Backdrop: Disappointment and Doubt
Let’s not gloss over it: Richarlison’s Tottenham tenure has not been easy. Signed for £60 million from Everton three years prior, he was billed as an answer to the club’s post-Kane transition. Instead, last season offered all the wrong types of drama, just four league goals, long spells on the sidelines with hamstring and calf injuries, and mounting pressure from supporters and the club itself for a solution.
With such a modest return, the summer rumour mill went into overdrive. The headlines practically wrote themselves: Saudi Arabian outfits hatching lucrative proposals, Palmeiras back home mulling a bid of over £50 million, and hints that a ‘fresh start’ might work for all parties.
Even suggestions of a move to Turkiye cropped up. For a fanbase hungry for squad evolution, cashing in on an injury-prone and inconsistent forward was not just debated; it became a point of consensus in certain circles.
But here is the twist. According to reliable sources, Richarlison wanted to stay, and only a truly outstanding offer would tempt him away. Spurs, for their part, seemed torn: he was the most sellable asset, but with other priorities in the market and injury woes deepening elsewhere, the gamble was to wait and see.
Burnley: Where Everything Changed
Football’s beauty lies in its ability to upend narratives in ninety minutes. Richarlison, handed a start up front in the opening league fixture, wasted little time quieting the doubters. Just 10 minutes in, he converted a cross from Mohammed Kudus, a finish that oozed confidence and vintage poacher’s instinct.
Sixty minutes later, he produced a sensational scissor-kick, again from Kudus’s delivery, doubling Spurs’ lead and spotlighting his technical quality and athleticism. By the time Brennan Johnson added a third, the emotional tone of the match had shifted from apprehension to euphoria for the Tottenham faithful.
Richarlison’s numbers told the story: netting two goals in a match which adds up to half his entire league tally from the season before. More importantly, with 13 goals in his last 16 Premier League starts, spanning injury-free periods, he’s been lethal when fit.
Manager Thomas Frank was effusive, “Richarlison was exceptional. His work rate, driving the team, link-up play, hold-up play, just dominating. And then the two finishes. I’m so happy for him. Again, the performance and medical department have done a top job to build him up”.
Why Richarlison is suddenly the multi-tool Spurs need
With Son Heung-min, Tottenham’s long-standing talisman, having departed for a fresh start in the United States over the summer, and James Maddison sidelined for much of the season with a serious ACL injury, Spurs find themselves stripped of their primary creative and finishing core.
That is a gaping void, one too big, perhaps, to fill from outside the club on short notice. In comes Richarlison, not just as a striker but as a veritable Swiss army knife for Thomas Frank. During the Burnley game, his tactical flexibility was on full show: able to lead the line, drift wide to link up with wingers, and drop deeper to facilitate moves.
Every sign indicates Frank sees him as more than a stopgap. “We need to get to know him as well. That can mean getting out earlier, coming from the bench, or playing five games in a row. We need to be smart with him,” said the Tottenham boss
Frank emphasised that keeping Richarlison fit and confident could dictate Tottenham’s entire attacking approach this season.
The Solanke Question and Offensive Depth
Some have suggested that Dominic Solanke, after his arrival last season, could eventually challenge Richarlison for the striker’s spot. Yet, Solanke’s debut campaign left as many questions as answers (9 league goals with an xG almost matching that tally but with limited “game-changing” displays).
Against Burnley and in key pre-season outings, Solanke’s link-up play and presence were evident, but the finishing edge and in-the-moment ruthlessness? That still seems to be Richarlison’s realm.
If Solanke catches fire and seizes the no. 9 spot, Richarlison’s skillset adapts; he can operate behind the striker, taking up the space vacated by Maddison’s absence, or even shift to the flanks to exploit mismatches in one-on-one scenarios. With his blend of pace, pressing, and goalscoring acumen, he becomes the exact sort of “problem-solver” Premier League teams crave in the condensed calendar.
Why selling Richarlison now would be a mistake
It is undeniable: Tottenham did not expect to find themselves so reliant on Richarlison. But that does not make it a bad thing. His showing against Burnley was more than just a “good day at the office”; it was a statement that, with patience and support, the Brazilian could yet become the focal point Spurs thought they were signing.
Selling now, when form and importance are on the rise, would rewrite a costly mistake. Replacement options of his calibre, especially given his ability to play centrally, on the left, or just behind the striker, do not come cheaply, and the squad’s current injury list only compounds the risk.
Richarlison’s fit fully aligns with Thomas Frank’s style: mobile, direct forwards who can press, finish from various angles, and interchange positions based on the opponent and tactical requirements. For a manager seeking to establish an identity post-Postecoglou, a firing Richarlison could mean the difference between a top-six push and another season of transition.
The Verdict
Tottenham’s summer began with question marks over Richarlison. But football’s relentless calendar does not leave much time for soul-searching. His brace against Burnley, blending poise with skill, might be just the early sign Spurs needed, both as justification for keeping him and as inspiration for further resurgence.
There is a sense that for the Brazilian international, this is the crossroads moment. Stay, lean into momentum, and help drive a Tottenham squad desperately needing fresh heroes. Leave, and Spurs risk losing a player who, finally fit and confident, might just be ready to deliver on all that faded promise.
In a squad torn by injury, and with new leadership settling in, sometimes the best solution is to trust what you already have, especially when it produces moments that lift the entire club. As far as North London is concerned, keeping Richarlison is no longer a hopeful gamble. After the Burnley breakthrough, it is become the most logical strategy in a season already full of surprises.
