Richarlison has once again found himself at the centre of debate in Brazil, as journalist Mauro Cezar Pereira openly questioned Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to keep including the Tottenham striker in the national team squad.
Speaking on UOL News Esporte, the Brazilian pundit expressed disbelief that Richarlison continues to be called up while young Real Madrid forward Endrick remains left out.
Mauro Cezar argued that Endrick’s limited minutes in Spain should not prevent him from representing Brazil, insisting that talent and potential should outweigh club game time in this case.
He drew comparisons between the 19-year-old and the legendary Ronaldo Nazário, highlighting the teenager’s explosive pace, strength, and instinct in front of goal.
For the commentator, Brazil’s new generation needs more opportunities, and continuing to rely on familiar faces like Richarlison is a mistake.
“I can’t understand why Ancelotti doesn’t call up Endrick, even if he’s not playing regularly at Real Madrid. That’s Xabi Alonso’s issue to manage,” Mauro Cezar said.
“Endrick must be part of the national team setup. And Richarlison what’s he doing there? With all due respect, he’s a great person with an inspiring story, but that miss from Estevão’s perfect assist showed how poor his positioning was. The ball was perfect; it should have been an easy finish.”
The journalist went on to call Ancelotti’s persistence with Richarlison “a serious mistake,” stressing that the Tottenham forward is not currently performing better than Endrick and should not be keeping him out of the squad.
According to him, the youngster deserves to be among the 26 names chosen for Brazil’s next international fixtures, especially as the team looks to refresh and rebuild ahead of future tournaments.
The remarks have stirred widespread discussion across Brazilian sports media and social platforms.
While some supporters continue to defend Richarlison for his tireless work rate, passion, and commitment whenever he wears the national shirt, others agree that his recent struggles in front of goal are hard to ignore.
His finishing has been inconsistent, and despite flashes of his old confidence, the goals have not flowed as freely as they once did.
For Tottenham, this debate adds more scrutiny to a player already under pressure to rediscover his best form. Since joining the Premier League side, Richarlison’s journey has been filled with highs and lows moments of brilliance followed by long stretches of frustration.
His determination to prove himself both in England and on the international stage remains unquestioned, but as criticism grows back home, he faces the challenge of silencing doubters with performances that speak for themselves.
As Brazil continues to experiment under Ancelotti, the conversation around who deserves a place in the squad is likely to intensify.
Richarlison’s reputation as a hard-working and emotional player has long earned him the trust of coaches, but the emergence of young talents like Endrick is changing the landscape.
If he wants to maintain his place in the Seleção, Richarlison will need to deliver more convincing displays for Tottenham the kind that remind everyone why he was once seen as one of Brazil’s most reliable forwards.
For now, the criticism serves as both a warning and motivation. Richarlison knows the expectations are high, and while his passion for representing Brazil remains strong, only consistent performances in the Premier League can silence questions about whether he still deserves that yellow shirt.
