Alan Shearer says Tottenham could face a lingering off-field problem after Roberto De Zerbi left Richarlison out of the club’s Premier League squad. The former England striker thinks the situation could unsettle Spurs all season, since the Brazilian is still under contract but can’t play in league games.
Because of squad-registration rules, Tottenham had to omit one non-homegrown player, and De Zerbi chose the 29-year-old Richarlison. The forward had turned down chances to leave late in the transfer window. Everton were reportedly keen on a reunion and Vasco da Gama also looked into a deal, but neither move happened, so he remains at Spurs with no role in De Zerbi’s league plans.
Tensions seemed to grow after Tottenham’s 3-1 Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool. Richarlison was eligible for that competition but wasn’t in the matchday squad, and he responded on social media with a single word: “why?”
Speaking to Betfair, as reported by Football London, Shearer said the decision can’t realistically be undone. In his view De Zerbi will stand by it, leaving the club paying a salary to a player who isn’t in the squad and who is unlikely to stay quiet about it. He added that with Spurs short on goals and wins, this is one more problem the manager doesn’t need, and that a breakdown in the player-manager relationship is never healthy for a club.
The timing is awkward for De Zerbi, who is already under pressure. Tottenham are winless in their first four league games and haven’t scored a single goal in them. They have reportedly spent over £320 million rebuilding the squad in the past year, and Shearer believes the hierarchy will want results soon. He said De Zerbi badly needs a win and that he sees nothing positive yet to justify the spending.
Saturday’s game against Aston Villa is therefore a big one. A three-week international break follows, so another poor result would leave Spurs under heavy scrutiny with no matches to change the mood. Meanwhile, Richarlison’s situation remains unresolved, with the forward possibly watching from the sidelines as Tottenham search for their attacking form.
