Zabaleta crucial to Richarlison's Brazil call-up
Pablo Zabaleta has been credited with pointing out Richarlison's talents to the Brazil national team coaching team.
West Ham's Pablo Zabaleta was crucial to Richarlison's call-up to the Brazil squad, according to assistant coach Sylvinho.
Richarlison – who moved from Watford to Everton in the close-season for a reported £40million plus add-ons – received his maiden call-up for the national team for friendlies against the United States and El Salvador in September, making his only start of four appearances so far against the latter, scoring twice in a 5-0 win.
And, after helping Brazil to a Superclasico de las Americas victory over Argentina, Richarlison has been called up for a third time ahead of clashes with Uruguay and Cameroon.
Tite's assistant Sylvinho plays a key role in the selection process, and the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City player said his ex-team-mate Zabaleta was the man who brought Richarlison to his attention.
"I have good friends on the continent, these guys who played with me help me," Sylvinho told a news conference.
"Zabaleta played against Watford and called me. He asked if we knew we had a spectacular player at Watford.
"He said he was not just good, he was "very good".
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"We've been monitoring him and he's part of our plans, he can play at nine or on the sides."
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Napoli's Allan is one of two uncapped players to have been selected for the games on November 16 and 20, and Sylvinho acknowledged that the midfielder's inclusion has been a long time coming.
"He's been in Europe for seven years. He started in Udinese. In Napoli, he played with Sarri," Sylvinho said.
"You will not see a number of goals and throughballs, but he is dynamic, performs functions in the middle of the field. He's here on merit."