It seemed to come out of nowhere that young Brazilian winger Richarlison turned down a move to Eredivisie and Champions League group stage hopefuls Ajax to join Watford, but it turns out the reason for his decision was a simple one.

Had he had his phone on silent one Sunday night in Rio de Janeiro earlier this summer, midway through the Brazilian season with Fluminense, he might have been playing in the Netherlands now.

But when the 20-year-old picked up Watford head coach Marco Silva's call, telling him why Watford was the right club for him, it would change everything.

Not for the first time this summer, Silva's intervention has proven key in attracting one of his top targets to Hertfordshire, with Burnley's Andre Gray already admitting he had received assurances of the Portuguese's interest before agreeing an £18.5 million move last month.

And for Richarlison, that intervention which would prove crucial in convincing the winger, who had never played outside of his native Brazil, to turn down an offer from Ajax - which was as good as completed - and instead chart a course further north to sign a five-year deal at Watford.

"I was at home, if I’m not mistaken on a Sunday night, I think," he said. "[Silva] called me and told me he wanted me here at Watford, that he knew of my potential, that I could play three positions in the attack.

"And when he called me I got super happy. That day, if I’m not mistaken, I already had the Ajax proposal, everything was already agreed. Marco Silva called me then, so I changed my mind”.

Richarlison's move was a brave one - leaving his family and fans behind in Rio and attempt to forge a career in Europe, a path which has been trodden with wildly mixed fortunes by South Americans down the years.

Six Premier League games, two goals and a Watford chant later, and the talented youngster is already settling in, despite speaking barely a word of English in his new surroundings.

He said: “I already feel at home, I feel like I’m in Brazil. My teammates welcomed me very well, especially Gomes. He’s the guy who helps me a lot, sorted everything for me, home, car."