Tottenham forward Richarlison congratulates former teammate Anthony Gordon for Barcelona move.
Richarlison has sent a message of congratulations to Anthony Gordon following the winger’s £69 million move to Barcelona, with the Tottenham forward responding to his former Everton teammate’s emotional Instagram farewell to Newcastle with a clapping hands emoji that reflects a bond maintained long after their time together at Goodison Park.
Gordon, 25, has completed one of the most significant transfers of the summer window before it has even officially opened, joining Barcelona after an impressive season at Newcastle in which he scored 17 goals and provided five assists across 46 appearances in all competitions. The move represents a remarkable journey for a player who made his Everton debut in December 2017 at just 16, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to appear for the Toffees in the process.
Richarlison and Gordon shared just one full season as established first-team players at Everton, the 2021-22 campaign, before the Brazilian departed for Tottenham in a deal the following summer and Gordon moved to Newcastle in January 2023 for £45 million. Despite the diverging career paths that followed, the warmth of the exchange on social media suggests the connection between the two has endured.
The brief but genuine reaction from Richarlison carries a certain poignancy, given where both players now find themselves. Gordon moves to one of world football’s most iconic clubs after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting wide players. Richarlison, meanwhile, enters the summer at Tottenham as a peripheral figure whose future at the club remains uncertain following a season in which he contributed but never truly nailed down a regular starting position.
Richarlison’s Tottenham future remains unclear
Whether Richarlison remains at Tottenham under De Zerbi next season is one of the more interesting questions of the summer. His work rate and experience have value, but the Italian’s system demands specific qualities from his forwards, and the arrival of a new striker, as confirmed by Alasdair Gold, will inevitably intensify competition for places. For now, he takes a moment to celebrate the success of a former teammate who has reached the very highest level of the game.