Achi news desk-
Ange Postecoglou with Richarlison. (Credit: Twitter)
The 26-year-old, who has been capped 48 times by Brazil, has urged players to seek help for mental health issues.
Brazilian striker Richarlison battled depression after his country’s quarter-final defeat to Croatia at the 2022 World Cup and considered quitting football.
Richarlison, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, said in September he would seek psychological help after being photographed crying on the bench when he was substituted during Brazil’s 5-1 rout of Bolivia in a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The 26-year-old, who has been capped 48 times by Brazil, has urged players to seek help for mental health issues.
“I had just played in the World Cup, at my peak,” Richarlison told ESPN Brazil. “I was reaching my limit, you know? I don’t know, I’m not going to talk about killing myself, but I was depressed there, and I wanted to quit.
“Even me, who seemed mentally strong. After the World Cup, it all seemed to fall apart.”
After initial struggles at Spurs, who he joined from Everton for a reported fee of 60 million pounds ($75.68 million) in 2022, Richarlison has scored 11 goals in 26 appearances this season.
“Before I went to train, I wanted to go home, I wanted to go back to my room because I don’t know what was going through my head,” he said. “I even went and told my dad I was going to quit.
“It’s kind of sad to talk like that. What I went through after the World Cup … To go to my dad, who was the guy who chased my dream with me, and say, ‘Dad, I want to quit’, is crazy.”
He said going to therapy was the best decision he has made.
“I think the therapist, like it or not, saved me, saved my life. I just thought it was rubbish … If you need a psychologist, look for one because it’s nice for you to open up like that, for you to be talking to the person,” Richarlison added.
Everton and Tottenham expressed solidarity with Richarlison after the interview.
“We express our strongest support for our former forward Richarlison and reinforce his important message about the need to look after your mental health and seek help,” the Merseyside club posted on the X social media platform.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)
