‘YOU DON’T HAVE TO SUFFER ALONE’
RICHARLISON has urged anyone suffering from mental health issues to “have the courage to find help” after refinding his fitness and form at Tottenham.
The £60million Brazil striker (above) suffered criticism in his home country during the last World Cup.
And he was then reduced to tears following the win over Bolivia last September when he said he would “seek psychological help”.
After counselling and groin surgery in November, Richarlison went on a run of nine goals in eight
Premier League games to push Ange Postecoglou’s side up the table.
And before leading the attack of the five-time World
Cup winners at
Wembley on
Saturday, the former
Watford and Everton star said he wanted his struggles and recovery to be “an example” to everybody.
“It is really important in the life of an athlete to have the support of a psychologist,” Richarlison said. “All players should have that support. That’s really helped.
“Before, when I played, the problems were always the things happening on the outside of the game. Now, when I play I am totally focused mentally on my football.
“Is it a problem in football that players are afraid to come forward to seek help? That problem happens not only in football but in life.
“People should have courage to find that help because it can change a lot to make a better life.
“I am an example because I have access to the media, so I can send a message to everybody because that’s really important.”
Speaking to ESPN Brazil in January, Richarlison revealed: “I managed, with the help of the club, to get this help. This was very important for me because there were days when
I didn’t want to leave the
house, leave my room. [I’d] go to train, go straight home and lock myself inside my room. So, that was difficult for me. Talking more with people, I think that it has improved.”
Richarlison also told yesterday how much he appreciated the support of former coach Tite at the World Cup and how he now restricts access to his social media.
Speaking through an interpreter at the team’s hotel, he said: “Today those who comment on my photos are only those who are close to me.
“There was a lot of persecution and this ended up affecting me because
I’m also a human being. I see things,
I see how people look at me.”
Richarlison will come up against
Tottenham teammates old and new at
Wembley on
Saturday night.
“On the pitch, friends become rivals,” he smiled.
“James Maddison
(above) and I are good friends. He is an important creative player for Tottenham. He plays a little bit like a Brazilian, and Harry Kane I know very well his ability.”