Brazil coach heaps praise on Marco Silva for Richarlison’s development

Brazil assistant manager Xavier Cleber has heaped praise on manager Marco Silva for aiding the development of Richarlison into a top-class prospect for club and country. The attacker first worked under Silva at Watford last term but their association reached an abrupt end after the Portuguese was sacked from the head coach position.

However, the Brazilian managed to reunite Silva at Everton after the offer came by during the summer and he has since not looked back with six league goals from just 10 appearances. Meanwhile, he has also made the step up to the national side with good effect and Cleber, who has watched him in close quarters happened to heap praise on the Toffees head coach.

He told Everton’s official website: “Marco Silva is really important in his career, he brought him to Watford then Everton. That is something which is really good for us. We exchange information between the club and the national team. He played as a winger for Watford and initially Everton, and for Brazil, we were using him as a centre-forward – the position he has been playing for Everton recently, too. This is really positive and Marco Silva is one of the most important guys in developing his career.”

Richarlison was initially ignored for the September run of internationals but he was thereafter called in as a late replacement. He has since contributed three goals for the South American giants from six appearances with the most recent of those coming during the international friendly against Cameroon at Stadium MK, where he scored the only goal of the game.

The 21-year-old has now returned to the Toffees for the festive schedule ahead and he is widely expected to feature for them when they entertain Cardiff City at Goodison Park this weekend. Everton are currently positioned ninth on the league table after accumulating 19 points from their opening 12 matches.