Richarlison Left Out of Tottenham Squad as De Zerbi Prioritizes Hungry Players
Richarlison’s name used to be one of the first on the Tottenham teamsheet. Now it is nowhere at all.
Tottenham have submitted their official Premier League squad list and the glaring omission is their top scorer from last season. Eleven goals in 32 league appearances have not been enough to save the 29-year-old Brazilian from a brutal reality: he has been left in professional limbo.
Injured talents like Simons and Odobert made the cut. Richarlison did not. Not even as a placeholder while he recovered form or reconsidered his stance. He has been discarded, and everyone around the club knows why.
“He decided everything alone”
Roberto De Zerbi did not duck the subject. He never does. Facing the media, the Tottenham head coach laid out the situation with his usual blunt edge, while carefully pushing the final responsibility upstairs.
“It was not my decision. It is the normal decision,” he said, framing the call as a natural consequence rather than a managerial axe. “I think Richarlison, he decided everything alone. He spoke with me at the beginning of the pre-season and told me his idea and desire was to leave.
“At the end we go to bring another striker in and like I said at the beginning of the pre-season, I want to keep the players, just the players that want to stay and be proud and with the right passion to stay here.”
That conversation at the start of the summer now looks like the turning point. Once Richarlison made clear he wanted out, Tottenham moved on. De Zerbi has simply refused to look back.
Club call, clear message
De Zerbi stressed that the final act — the omission from the official squad list — sits with the hierarchy, not the dugout. The structure of power at Tottenham remains intact, even in a decision as symbolic as this.
“Then for everything and other problems, it is not my business and not my job. It is the responsibility of the club,” he said. “I can't say nothing because I didn't decide anything. The message of Richarlison from the beginning of the season has been very clear. I accepted that and for me there is nothing to say.”
Nothing to say, yet the message is loud. A player who started the opening game of the campaign against Brentford has been pushed to the margins in a matter of weeks. The fall has been swift and unforgiving.
New faces, new pecking order
The market has not waited for Richarlison to change his mind. Tottenham have already retooled their attack.
Omar Marmoush has arrived from Manchester City. Mykhailo Mudryk has come in on loan from Chelsea. Savio has joined from City as well. Each signing nudges Richarlison further down a ladder he no longer seems interested in climbing.
Once the focal point, he is now surplus. The club have invested in forwards who fit De Zerbi’s vision of energy, versatility and, above all, hunger. That word keeps returning whenever the Italian talks about his squad.
De Zerbi draws a hard line
The coach’s stance could not be clearer. He will not build around reluctant stars or players who see Tottenham as a holding pattern.
“If you don't want to stay here, I don't want to keep talking in the press conference. Go out – you have the freedom to go out,” he said. “If you don't want to stay, why do we have to keep you on the list? Why do you have to stay?
“I'm not Vinai, I'm not the sporting director, I am the coach and I would like to work with the people hungry if they don't play but happy to stay in this club.”
That is the dividing line. On one side, those willing to fight for minutes and embrace the project. On the other, a proven Premier League goalscorer who made it clear he wanted to leave and now finds the door effectively closed behind him.
Tottenham have chosen their path. De Zerbi has chosen his dressing room. The question now is where Richarlison finds his next one.
