IF DELE ALLI’S candid interview with Gary Neville in July taught us anything, it is to think twice before condemning a player out of form.
Elite footballers are like the rest of us, often with complicated pasts and entangled personal lives, and their struggles on the pitch can be as much the result of off-field difficulties as fitness, confidence or ability.
This week, for example, one of Dele’s successors in Tottenham’s attack, Richarlison, revealed he will seek “psychological help” on his return from international duty after a “turbulent time” away from the pitch for the past five months.
Richarlison’s revelation came after he was pictured in tears on Brazil’s bench during the 5-1 win over Bolivia, in which he failed to score and was substituted. He then started the 1-0 win over Peru and had a goal disallowed — continuing a steady streak of rotten luck.
Richarlison has not scored for his country since the World Cup and it feels like nothing has gone right for him since joining Spurs from Everton for £60million two summers ago.
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