Brazil forward Richarlison has hit out at Tottenham manager Antonio Conte over his lack of playing time this season following his big-money move from Everton last summer.
The 25-year-old, who signed a five-year contract worth £60 million, says he does not understand the treatment he has received after being brought on for just 20 minutes in Spurs’ goalless stalemate against AC Milan on Wednesday, leading to their elimination from the Champions League on a 1-0 aggregate scoreline.
The former Watford striker was critical of the Italian manager as he showed his frustration at not being given ample playing time while talking with TNT Sports Brazil.
“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 said. “Suddenly, they put me on the bench, against Wolverhampton he put me on for five minutes. I asked why, but 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.
“We are out of the biggest club competition. You can’t play like this when needing to score a goal. I think he should have put the team forward, especially in the second half.
“Let’s see what [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.
The Tottenham players were booed off by their supporters after another disappointing performance confirmed their trophy drought for another season, taking it to 16 consecutive years.
Richarlison, who was one of the best performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Brazil, with three goals in four games, including two stunning strikes in the group stages, continued to expressed his dislike for his present predicament.
“This season, excuse the word, it’s been s***, 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 Spurs’ No. 9 added.
The Brazil striker has become a regular off the bench for the Lilywhites, averaging just under 45 minutes per game in 25 matches across four tournaments. He has however managed to bag two goals and three assists in that time across all competitions but has failed to find the back of the net in the Premier League.
