Richarlison Frozen Out at Tottenham After Clash With De Zerbi
The Brazilian forward’s relationship with his manager appears completely broken after a summer dominated by attempts to leave the club.
Tottenham have another major problem to deal with amid their difficult start to the season. Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Richarlison has been frozen out of the first team, making it clear that he currently has no intention of using the Brazilian forward under any circumstances.
“He won’t play even if he’s available. Not even in the Carabao Cup,” the Italian coach said ahead of Tuesday’s third-round clash against Liverpool.
The situation is particularly significant because Richarlison is not registered to play in the Premier League, but he would be eligible to feature in the Carabao Cup. However, De Zerbi has decided to leave him out for reasons that go far beyond his performances on the field.
A Summer That Broke Their Relationship
The origins of the dispute can be traced back to the summer transfer window. De Zerbi revealed that he spoke with Richarlison several times during preseason in an attempt to convince him to remain in London, but the Brazilian made it clear that he wanted to leave.
“I spoke to him several times during preseason to ask him to stay, and he told me no,” De Zerbi explained. The Tottenham boss also insisted that he was not prepared to continually persuade a player who did not want to remain at the club.
De Zerbi believes the issue is now between Richarlison and Tottenham. “The conflict is between the player and the club, and I’m with the club,” he said, leaving little doubt about where he stands in a dispute that appears far from resolved.
Richarlison Responds With a Message on Social Media
De Zerbi’s comments quickly prompted a reaction from Richarlison. The 29-year-old responded on social media with an extremely brief message: “Why?”, accompanied by a crying emoji.
His reaction adds another layer of tension to a complicated situation for a player who joined Tottenham from Everton in 2022 for €58 million and now finds himself completely outside the manager’s plans.
Richarlison came close to leaving London during the summer. A loan move to Vasco da Gama collapsed late in the window, while there were also talks over a return to Everton and an offer from Trabzonspor. None of those possibilities ultimately materialized.
Another Problem for a Tottenham Side Under Pressure
The dispute comes at an especially difficult moment for Spurs. After securing Premier League survival only on the final day of last season, Tottenham currently sit third from bottom, just one point above the relegation zone after their opening four matches.
The Carabao Cup could have offered an opportunity to bring Richarlison back into the fold and provide De Zerbi with another attacking option, but the Italian has emphatically ruled that out.
With the transfer window closed and the Brazilian still under contract, Tottenham must now find a solution for a high-profile player who, despite being eligible to compete in some competitions, has no place in his manager’s plans.
Key Takeaways
- De Zerbi confirmed that Richarlison has been frozen out at Tottenham and will not play even in the Carabao Cup.
- The dispute dates back to the summer, when Richarlison told the manager that he wanted to leave the club.
- The Brazilian publicly responded with a simple “Why?” after De Zerbi’s comments.
Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live for free on YouTube
Richarlison de Andrade
Tottenham Hotspur FC
