Everton forward Richarlison enjoyed a terrific debut season at Goodison Park following his summer switch from Watford, and would have been hoping his efforts in Royal Blue carried over onto the international scene for this summer’s Copa America.
The 10-cap international, though, missed Brazil’s Copa America Quarter-Final against Paraguay on Thursday night, as the 22-year-old was diagnosed with mumps, and illness Globe Esporte expect could end his tournament.
Richarlison had started the international competition favourably with a starting call-up by Tite on the right-wing against Bolivia, before being handed a further 45 minutes against Venezuela. He failed to score in either, and was benched for the final Group Stage tie against Peru, and was due to sit in the dugout against Paraguay.
However, the 5 ft 8 forward began to feel pain on Wednesday and had a swollen neck, before scans on Thursday morning confirmed that he had mumps.
He is now being kept in isolation from the rest of the Selecao because of the risk of contagion, with the remainder of the Brazil squad scheduled to be vaccinated following their game with Paraguay, which they won 4-3 on penalties.
Richarlison’s Copa America is not yet guaranteed to be over, though, as Brazil intend to follow his recovery closely before reaching a final decision on whether to send him home or not. But his isolation period is expected to stretch until the start of next week, which threatens his involvement in the Semi-Final next Wednesday.
Given our club record £50million signing has been attracting the interest of some of Europe’s leading sides already this year, some fans have seen Richarlison’s case of mumps as good news, as it could help Marcel Brands and Marco Silva fend off some of the vultures allegedly circling Merseyside.
Here’s how these fans reacted when his situation was shared on Twitter…
That’s Brazil out the Copa America
— KingDigne (@KingDigne) June 27, 2019
Need to learn how to say “Everton that” in portugese
— Ben ???????????? (@benedgar69) June 27, 2019
Poor lad, that’s horrendous. I had that when I was little. I suppose because he’s from a very poor background, he wont have been vaccinated
— Mary (@maryzgreenway) June 27, 2019
Another bloody crock.????
Pre season starts on the 1st July.
Better be fit by then. ????— Degsy (@Portia57) June 27, 2019
Everton arent we????
— mark (@180shark) June 27, 2019
Can’t get injured now phew!
— Liam Gormley (@lgormley1961) June 28, 2019
On a positive not for Evertonians, there’s less of a chance of a big club coming in with an offer now XD
— Alex Bishop (@Abishop32) June 28, 2019
I predict he wii get measles next, then Chicken pox followed by scarlet fever. Then spread it onto the rest of our squad. The Shite won’t get it because of some undetectable wonder drug they’re on.
— Dave ‘Davoth’ Kelly (@davothkelly) June 27, 2019
Let’s hope he recovers as quick as drogba recovered from malaria???? pic.twitter.com/rrVABbViLo
— Adam (@Adam_1878) June 27, 2019
probs got it off firmino the disease ridden ladyboy
— ste cant (@stecantwell) June 27, 2019
Probably got it off firmino or Alisson hasn’t Neymar had mumps in the past?
— DJSPARKY (@140samshadow) June 27, 2019