Tottenham Hotspur’s internal standoff with Richarlison has reached a decisive juncture after the Brazilian forward was left out of Roberto De Zerbi’s official 25-player Premier League squad. The exclusion follows weeks of tension that began at the start of pre-season, when the striker informed De Zerbi of his desire to leave North London and subsequently turned down an offer to extend his contract. De Zerbi didn’t hesitate to set clear boundaries, insisting he would only work with players who actively want to stay and possess the right passion for the shirt. After Tottenham brought in another striker to reinforce their attack, Richarlison was pushed to the periphery, leaving both club and player searching for an immediate exit strategy.
A turbulent summer transfer window failed to deliver a resolution before the English deadline, leaving the wantaway forward in a difficult position. Richarlison came close to securing a move away, drawing strong interest from Everton and agreeing terms with Turkish club Trabzonspor. However, neither deal materialised before the respective transfer deadlines closed. With European windows shut, the forward is now left looking at alternative options in the Saudi Pro League or a return to Brazil. Should a move fail to materialize in the coming weeks, Tottenham have already laid out a backup plan to finalize his departure during the January transfer window.
Physical setbacks have further complicated the situation following Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Richarlison pulled up during the match holding the back of his leg with a suspected hamstring injury, adding health concerns to his existing squad exclusion. The match proved doubly damaging for Spurs, as midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur also suffered a hamstring injury that will require surgery, sidelining the Uruguayan for the next three months. Bentancur’s long-term absence has prompted Tottenham to re-evaluate their mid-season priorities, with the club now actively searching for a new central midfielder to sign in January.
The situation at Tottenham unfolds amidst wider movements across the transfer market. As Spurs work through their squad rebuild, Burnley recently hijacked Blackburn Rovers’ attempt to sign midfielder Reo Hatate, while Liverpool remain linked with Crystal Palace forward Ismaïla Sarr following Cody Gakpo’s collapsed move to Manchester City. For Tottenham, the mandate under De Zerbi isn’t changing. The manager has made it plain that only committed players will feature in his long-term project. Whether Richarlison completes a swift transition to Saudi Arabia or Brazil shortly or waits for Tottenham’s January exit strategy to activate, his time in North London is rapidly coming to a close.
