Richarlison has endured a quiet period in north London: since the 2-2 draw at Brighton, he has failed to find the net for Tottenham, and his starting appearances under manager Thomas Frank have become increasingly sporadic.

Back in Brazil, there is growing scrutiny of his selection for the national team, with journalists pointing to his recent club form and suggesting he may have been picked more due to his relationship with Ancelotti than his current performances.

Brazilian journalist Lucas Musetti, among others, criticised the player’s recent call-up.

Musetti said:

“Within this list of various players I like, Richarlison bothers me the most because he had space and opportunity in this national team and didn’t justify it. I think that Ancelotti knowing and trusting him alone can’t be a justification for this call-up.”

According to Football.Lonson, Ancelotti addressed the criticism head-on after naming his squad for friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia. He stated that Brazil were looking for a “centre forward with the profile of a reference point in the area”, a role he believes Richarlison can fill. Despite the striker’s limited game time, the coach highlighted his past international track record and his suitability for that particular role.

“Richarlison...