Tottenham star Richarlison to miss chance to refuse handshake with West Ham ace
Ange Postecoglou is there to support Richarlison
Tottenham striker Richarlison will not get the chance to exact his revenge on West Ham’s Michail Antonio after the pair’s spat last season. The Brazilian forward was unhappy with comments made by Antonio about his lack of form in front of goal and vowed to refuse to shake his hand when the teams were next due to face each other, but Richarlison is set to be denied his wish.
The club confirmed their £60million signing from Everton last summer has successfully undergone groin surgery and would be continuing his rehabilitation before returning to training in the ‘coming weeks’.
The player himself posted an update from his hospital bed after the procedure was completed to explain the decision to go under the knife.
“Hey everyone! Today, I underwent surgery to correct a chronic issue I’ve been experiencing in the pubic region,” he wrote on Instagram. “Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been dealing with unbearable pain, affecting my performance and joy on the field.
READ MORE Richarlison will ‘refuse’ to shake Antonio’s hand as Lucas Paqueta chat leaked[INSIGHT]
“A few days ago, I decided it was time to prioritise my health, recover, and regain the physical condition for my best performance and, most importantly, to live without the pain I’ve been feeling.”
It is the latest setback for Richarlison since his big-money move to the north London club, with the 26-year-old largely underwhelming since arriving at the club 17 months ago. In his 10 appearances this season, the Brazil international had scored only once, although he had supplied three assists since being moved out to a new role on the left wing.
And it is almost certain to rule him out of the clash against West Ham on December 7 as high-flying Spurs welcome their London rivals to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, denying him the chance to snub Antonio in the pre-match handshake.
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Richarlison did not take too kindly to criticism from one of his fellow professionals last season when Antonio, 33, poked fun at his goal troubles. He scored just once in 27 games for Spurs, with three goals ruled out by VAR, and Antonio could not resist taking a pop at him on his podcast with Callum Wilson.
“He’s scored four times this season. Three of the times he has been offside. He has taken his top off four times this season,” Antonio joked, with Wilson adding: “He’s got four yellows. He’s almost on a suspension!”
The public mocking of Richarlison didn’t go down well with Tottenham interim boss Ryan Mason, while Antonio learned through their mutual acquaintance Lucas Paqueta that Richarlison was plotting his revenge in the next London derby between the teams.
Asked if Spurs need to sign a striker after Harry Kane’s departure, Antonio said on the podcast: “I am no longer commenting on Richarlison. It’s got to the stage where I feel that some people are a little touchy.
“I am not going to talk about the person that is in that position. I am just going to say that Tottenham need a striker. I will leave it at that – It’s banter. We banter with each other.
“I have gone to Paqueta. They play with each other. I have said ‘What’s wrong with your boy? It’s a bit of banter. I don’t understand why he is taking it so personally’, to the stage where his manager has to talk.
“Lucas is like ‘It’s just how he is, Mickey. I told him that’s how you are. But he says ‘no, no, no. When we play against them. I am not going to shake his hand’.”
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