Watford boss Marco Silva admits he personally intervened to sign Richarlison.

Richarlison, 20, has made an immediate impact at Watford with two goals in six league appearances since joining from Fluminense for £11.5million this summer.

But it could have been a different story without Silva's persistence and last-gasp sales pitch.

Silva said: “We had to act very fast. We made contact with him and when I knew the player was ready to travel to sign with Ajax I had to stop everything and call him.

“It was a Sunday and he was due to travel to Ajax on the Monday. I explained everything and what I expected from him. I told him I believed in him and I wanted him to come here and help us.

“I told him that Ajax was a big club – they are in the Champions League – but I told him how the challenge in the Premier League would be different to Ajax."