COMMENT: What a 24 hours at Everton. What a 24 hours for their strikers. As one commits, another melts down - well, online at least...

First the good news. The return of Richarlison. Everton's gold medal winner. The second in the club's history after Daniel Amokachi. The Brazilian was given a hero's welcome home. Just the tonic after a summer of speculation regarding the centre-forward's future.

As he returned to Finch Farm, Richarlison was greeted by a specially-made banner held up by applauding teammates. Marcel Brands, the club's sporting director, led Richarlison onto the training pitch with a guard of honour formed before the Dutchman said a few words.

Of course, it was tongue-in-cheek. But it also hit the right note. And it's no surprise that Brands, with his attention to detail and man-management skills, was behind the whole exercise. And it worked, Richarlison later taking to social media to express how much he appreciated the efforts of everyone involved. The striker also making sure to thank management for releasing him for the Tokyo Games.

"The best reception I could have on my way home," he declared. "Thanks to my team-mates, staff and club management for this beautiful surprise.

"And thanks for letting me make my dream come true!

"It's for this kind of affection that I'll always give my 110% for this club and for our fans."

So much for those Real Madrid rumours. And to be fair, they never came from Spain. Nor the player's management team. Friends inside Real Madrid telling this column there was never any interest in the Brazilian this summer. They're aware of Richarlison - that's for certain. But he was never a target for this window. The whole episode more a flyer from local English media.

Richarlison celebrates Brazil's gold medal victory with Daniel Alves

But there was tension between the player and management when discussions were held about his hopes of playing in the Olympics. Richarlison expressed as much on local Brazilian radio. That he now returns not only with a gold medal, but grateful towards the club and the people he works with day-in, day-out, is a credit to how Brands and new manager Rafa Benitez handled the situation. The end result couldn't have been better.

Gratitude. Humility. Even loyalty. It was all expressed in Richarlison's post after training this week. Benitez and Everton not only have a gold medal winning striker available for the Premier League opener against Southampton, but more importantly a happy and committed one.

Which is in contrast to another of Benitez's strikers, Moise Kean. We mention meltdown and it's difficult to state otherwise. Like a jilted ex-lover wiping all memories of a past relationship, Kean took the scissors to his Instagram account yesterday. The Italy international deleting every image; every mention of Everton FC from his wall. All that was left at the time of writing were four posts - which included him being in Juventus and PSG kits.

There's no need to read between the lines for this one. One the eve of the new season, Benitez has a player desperate to get out. Which he's made absolutely clear across today's prime communication lines between footballer and fan. Kean effectively deleting not just Everton from his life, but also the Blues support.

Any hope of Kean staying on Merseyside and justifying the backing of Brands is now over. He hasn't gone public and disparaged the club, which is a small mercy. But his actions online have spoke volumes. An insult? Only those Evertonians whom have invested so much emotionally into supporting Kean can tell us that. But again, there's no need to second guess what he's trying to do.

Of course, after seeing the trail go cold on a return to PSG, Italy's current title holders have now come forward. But would the Juventino actually make the move to Inter Milan? He's just written off his current Everton support, would Kean now do the same to his former Juve fans?

For Benitez and Brands, that's not their problem. If Kean wants to run the Bianconeri gauntlet - with Mino Raiola (as always) pulling the strings - they should let him.

A new manager. With new ideas. A dressing room with the spirit shown this week. And the approach of Brands. If Kean and Raiola can't see a future in that, then there's no point in Everton wasting their time. Indeed, with less than three weeks left before the summer deadline falls, there's better ways of using such time than giving it one last go to convince Kean to stay.

Better to throw your efforts behind a grateful striker who commits, than one who has just performed an online meltdown.