Everton’s summer signing Richarlison has admitted that he nearly gave up on the dream of becoming a professional career. In an interview with AS, the Toffees frontman discussed the hardships faced during the initial stages of his career and admitted that he would have not made to the big stage, had he failed with his ultimate trial with America Mineiro.

Speaking to the Spanish publication, he said: “I haven’t got enough fingers to count the number of clubs who rejected me. I was ready to give up football, but I lifted my head and I went to Belo Horizonte with just the money for an outward ticket for the last trial I had, with America MG. If I didn’t make it, I had no money to get home to Espiritu Santo, 600 kilometres away. I gave my all that morning and I passed. If I had given up after the first no I would never have made it where I am today.”

From his time with Minerio, Richarlison went on to spend one season with Fluminense between 2016 and 2017 and his performances were deemed worthy enough to secure a Premier League chance with Watford. At Vicarage Road, the Brazilian produced a mixed bag with all of his five goals coming during the first half of the 2017/18 season but he was nevertheless offered another big challenge with Everton which he could not refuse this summer.

Richarlison has since made his mark with the Toffees with three goals from as many appearances but there remains the issue with his discipline, which he may need to improve on. Despite this, he should be pleased with the progress made on the personal scale and he most recently earned his first two caps with the Brazilian national side – scoring a brace during his debut against El Salvador.