Roberto De Zerbi Confirms Star Won’t Play for Him Again After Being Caught Doing This Behind the Scenes — Left Out of Squad for Liverpool Clash
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has given a blunt assessment of Richarlison’s standing at the club, stating plainly that the Brazilian striker won’t be picked for matches, regardless of his availability.
Richarlison finds himself frozen out after a summer transfer away from the club fell through. The 29-year-old was excluded from Spurs’ Premier League squad list once the club couldn’t reach terms with several clubs that had shown interest, meaning he now faces a lengthy spell out of contention.
Some had thought he might still get minutes in the Carabao Cup, where squad-list restrictions are looser — but De Zerbi shut that possibility down too, saying directly that Richarlison won’t play “even if he’s available,” including in the cup competition.
It’s a tough blow for the forward, who wanted to stay part of the first-team picture despite his murky club future. A planned exit to Everton fell apart on deadline day when the two clubs couldn’t finalize a deal, and other potential transfers also failed to come together — leaving his Tottenham future looking shakier than ever.
The manager’s stance also signals he’s already planning his squad without Richarlison in it. Given Spurs’ early-season goal-scoring struggles, some fans might wonder why a seasoned attacker isn’t being used as a backup option — but De Zerbi’s mind appears made up.
Barring a change of circumstances, Richarlison may have to wait until the January window for a genuine shot at first-team football again — a steep comedown for someone once seen as a key piece of the Tottenham attack.
