Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi decided to omit Richarlison from the 25-man Premier League squad.
Two points from the opening five Premier League matches is certainly not the start that Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi and our fans had envisioned, particularly after the money that was spent to revamp the squad during the summer transfer window.
Unsurprisingly, certain sections of the fanbase are already questioning whether De Zerbi is the right man to lead the club forward. In the last few games, the performances have improved. Spurs were the better team in the first half against Aston Villa, but they ended up getting beaten 3-2 at home.
The Lilywhites have succeeded in creating quality chances under De Zerbi’s intricate and fluid possession system, but have been severely hampered by a persistent failure to convert those opportunities in front of goal. Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke have yet to open their accounts, with the latter still not up to his peak fitness levels. And then there is Richarlison, frozen out of the squad by the Spurs gaffer.
TalkSPORT pundit has no sympathy with Richarlison’s situation at Tottenham
Richarlison was the North London club’s top scorer last season with 12 goals last season. He was expected to kick on this season and become a key player under De Zerbi. But the Brazilian international asked De Zerbi to let him leave the club in the summer, and the 47-year-old tactician agreed.
Spurs were left scratching their heads after the Richarlison saga over the summer. The 29-year-old failed to secure a move away from N17 during various stages of the transfer window and beyond. Amid Tottenham’s struggle for goals, the spotlight has been put on Richarlison. However, talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has no sympathy for the centre-forward’s situation, given that he decided to go public with his criticism of the North London club rather than amicably solving the issue.
“I have a lot of sympathy for the fans, but less so for Richarlison, to be honest. Instead of venting on social media, he should keep his head down, work hard, and have private conversations with the manager. Outspoken comments like that don’t help his cause, so I have little sympathy there,” Ally McCoist said on the talkSPORT show.
Spurs planning to accept cut-price fee for Richarlison in January
Richarlison is staying at Tottenham until at least the end of 2026. With Spurs struggling to score goals, one would imagine De Zerbi to soften his stance and integrate the striker back into his squad. But the Italian tactician remains firm on his decision, meaning Richarlison is unlikely to see any action with the senior squad in the coming months.
Recent reports suggest that the Lilywhites are prepared to offload Richarlison in the January transfer window for a reduced fee. And the Brazilian is not expected to be short of suitors; Turkish giants Fenerbahce have started laying the initial groundwork for a winter move for the Tottenham outcast. They have re-established contact with the player’s representatives following earlier interest over the summer.
