Roberto De Zerbi issues update on Richarlison’s Tottenham future amid contract saga
Richarlison will not be included in Tottenham’s squad for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool after manager Roberto De Zerbi chose to leave him out.
The forward was omitted from Spurs’ 25-man Premier League list submitted earlier this month after being told he is surplus to requirements. Having failed to secure a departure, he remains eligible for domestic cup competitions.
However, De Zerbi confirmed the former Everton player, who rejected a move to Vasco da Gama on Friday, will not feature. This comes despite his record of four goals in seven games against Liverpool for Spurs, who have not scored in the league during 2026-27.
“Richarlison, you already know everything and nothing change for Carabao Cup or Premier League. The situation is the same,” De Zerbi said.
“I stay in the middle and I can’t say nothing more because it is not my job. I can answer about the result and the players in the squad, the offensive phase, the defensive phase, but not for other things.
“What I have done at the beginning of this season has been to speak with him and to propose an extension of the contract. If he said, ‘no thank you,’ I finished my job.
“I said last press conference. I know what happened in the last 45 days. It’s not right if I explained. It’s not my behaviour. The relationship, the problem is between the player and the club.
“I stay within the club. It’s coach and club together. At the start of this season I spoke to him many times to convince him to stay and he didn’t want to. I can’t go every day to pray for him to stay.”
This is the latest chapter in an unwanted saga involving Richarlison, who responded to a social media post by Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano that confirmed De Zerbi’s decision by simply posting the word “Why?” with a ‘crying face’ emoji.
Richarlison started the league opener at Brentford, but was told he can leave before a move to Everton collapsed and links to Trabzonspor failed to turn into a move.
After Richarlison did not agree personal terms with boyhood club Vasco on Friday, he was in attendance for Spurs’ goalless draw with Everton, but will remain on the sidelines.
De Zerbi will also be without Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali for the midweek trip to Anfield.
After a 0-0 draw at Everton, De Zerbi talked about playing with “other players” at Liverpool, but hinted he will not make wholesale changes.
De Zerbi added: “No, the other players, I think Lucas Bergvall is not ‘other player’, Mathys Tel also and then we have to analyse the other players.
“Maybe the players who didn’t play enough but I already said I am lucky because for centre back for example we have JP van Hecke and (Micky) van de Ven, two top players, but (Marcos) Senesi, Ben Davies, Tosin (Adarabioyo) are not less than Van de Ven and Van Hecke.
“I would like to go far in the Carabao and FA Cup.”
