Everton new boy Richarlison has told reporters how his life could have been very different if it hadn’t been for football, and revealed that a lot of his childhood friends haven’t been so lucky.
Richarlison made his first appearance for the Brazil senior side this week, and after signing from Watford for such a big fee, has hit the ground running with the Blues.
However, it wasn’t always such a happy story.
“A lot of my friends are in jail or dead, as they got caught up in the world of drugs and guns. I was in the middle of it all. Where I lived was a drug-dealing spot. I never got involved in any of it,” Richarlison explained.
“I had no trainers to play so I went barefoot. Everyone else had trainers. I also remember running 9km to training one day with ripped trainers. The sock kept coming out of the shoe, so I’d have to stop and tuck it in.
“My coach told me to never give up, as I was still very young. I continued working towards my dream.”
Wise words.
NSNO Staff
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