Roberto De Zerbi explains Richarlison’s squad omission and admits the striker’s recent decisions led to his exclusion.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has offered a revealing explanation regarding Richarlison’s omission from the club’s registered 25-man Premier League squad. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash against Everton, the Italian manager clarified that the Brazilian striker’s exclusion was not a unilateral decision imposed by management, but rather the direct consequence of choices made by the player over the past month and a half.
Addressing media reports following the breakdown of Richarlison’s deadline night move to Vasco da Gama, De Zerbi made it clear that he would have felt regret had the coaching staff dropped him arbitrarily. He said (h/t The Spurs Watch on X):
“If I had decided myself to leave him outside of the squad, I would have regrets. But the decision has not even been taken by the club. It has been a consequence of what I told you already, that he has decided by his own.”
De Zerbi emphasized his personal affinity for the 29-year-old forward while confirming he held multiple discussions in an effort to convince Richarlison to remain committed to the North London project. However, conduct across the previous 45-day window ultimately determined the final outcome, leaving Spurs with one fewer registered attacking option for domestic fixtures.
“I’m sorry because I have one player less on the list. Richarlison is a good guy, a very good guy. I spoke with him a lot of times and I spent time to convince him to stay. But if you ask me, I know the truth. I know what happened in the last month, the last 45 days. And it’s clear, but I’m not frustrated.”
“I know what the club has done in the last 45 days with him and what was the behaviour of Richarlison. I can’t explain because it’s not right, but I’m sorry because it could be different. Even the end of the story, but a different way, I think, it could have been better.”
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The manager acknowledged the significant role Richarlison played for Tottenham during the previous campaign, expressing disappointment that the relationship reached a standstill during the transfer window. With a prospective permanent transfer to Vasco da Gama collapsing due to unresolvable personal terms despite club-to-club agreement on a fee, Richarlison remains at Hotspur Way without domestic match eligibility until January.
“Or it was much better for Richarlison to be on the list, Richarlison happy to stay, maybe to extend his contract, because he is still an important player, he was important last season, we can’t forget. But we can’t forget also the last 45 days.”
The lingering squad impasse comes at a delicate time for Tottenham as De Zerbi manages a 270-minute Premier League goal drought alongside fitness concerns for Mykhailo Mudryk and Dejan Kulusevski. With Richarlison unavailable for selection, De Zerbi must rely on Dominic Solanke, Omar Marmoush, Sávio, and Mathys Tel to resolve Spurs’ attacking friction starting against Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
