SELLING TO RICH But Brazil ace wants

When the Brazilian signed from Watford for £35million last summer he expected a better season than struggling outside the Premier League top 10, a huge 36 points behind their neighbours.

But when Richarlison analyses his current life at Goodison and thinks about what he has got as a top-class footballer, it puts everything into perspective.

Growing up in the tough streets of Nova Venecia was a far cry from the comforts he enjoys now as an Everton superstar.

Back in the day he actually thought of quitting his football career before it had even started because he was fed up with so many rejections after giving his all in endless trials.

Pressurised by his family to bring home some cash to bolster a threadbare household budget, he sold ice-creams and washed cars to put food on the table.

He spent his last bit of savings on a 400-mile bus journey for yet another trial – and finally found success to start the journey from Brazil to Britain where he has been catapulted into a lifestyle beyond his wildest dreams.

Richarlison, ahead of today’s highprofile clash against Chelsea, said: “Did I think of quitting? I almost did.

“After my first trial went wrong I was aged 16 and I was needed at home to pull my weight.

“My mum put me under pressure because she wanted me to study and work. I had to bring in food and be a member of the household. So I was very close to quitting so I could get a job.

“I sold ice-creams. I went and washed cars at a local car wash. My grandfather had a piece of land and I would go and help him out by planting coffee and peanuts.

“But all cities in Brazil have loads of football pitches and in a way they are like a refuge. It was an escape for many from drugs. I saw wads of cash in front of me but it was good for me to have this escape.

“Our coach Fidel was a police officer. He was a great example to me and he helped me a lot. It’s definitely a lot easier to deal with difficulties once you have been through them already.

“We are prepared at Everton for everything that is coming. The present time has had its challenges but I know I want to help my team-mates.

“Playing Chelsea is a big game and we’re all fired up for it.”

Richarlison does not hide the fact that Everton’s lacklustre season was not the plan they had the start of the campaign. But now, in their remaining matches, it is time to put the record straight. He added: “It has been a difficult time for the club. We have all been working very hard but in some of the games, the luck has not been there for us.

“We have been working, working, working, trying to develop and play our best but we had a great deal of new players and this is the first season for many of them in England.

“We know it’s a difficult league but as time goes on we hope we will develop and improve. I am always very happy to score goals for sure.

“But I can always improve and I am trying to develop with and within the team. I want to play better in matches, too.

“It’s good being in the Premier League as it makes big demands on you physically and I want to develop in that side of the game and go forward.”

Richarlison has been linked with today’s opponents Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan but he has swatted that speculation aside.

He added: “I just want to take things step by step. You can’t go busting through every wall at the same time. I am here and I want to do my best for Everton.

“I hope we can bring in new players and get a bigger squad and maybe make that step. It’s not over and we will keep trying for that seventh place.

“I do want to end the season well for Everton. If I have a strong finish in the Premier League that means I have a bigger chance of playing for Brazil.”

‘Did I think of quitting? I almost did’