Richarlison Questions Tottenham Future After Cup Omission

Richarlison’s Tottenham future was thrown back under the spotlight after the Brazilian publicly questioned Roberto De Zerbi’s decision to leave him out of the squad for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool.

The forward, already at the centre of uncertainty over his role in north London, took to social media after the teams were announced. He shared a screenshot highlighting his omission and added a single word – “Why?” – alongside a tearful, sad-faced emoji. One word, one symbol, and a clear message: he is not happy.

It comes at the end of a turbulent spell for the 29-year-old. A proposed move to Vasco da Gama collapsed last week, leaving him in limbo. Sources indicated Tottenham had agreed a fee with the Brazilian club, but the deal stalled when personal terms were not finalised before the Brazilian transfer window shut on Friday. The exit route closed just as it seemed ready to open.

De Zerbi, speaking before the Liverpool tie, did not hide his frustration with how the situation has unfolded.

“At the start of this season, I spoke to him many times to convince him to stay and he didn’t want to,” the Spurs head coach said. “I can’t go every day to pray for him to stay.”

He described his efforts to keep Richarlison at the club as a job already done.

“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.”

Those words land heavily when placed alongside Richarlison’s public complaint. The manager paints a picture of a player who resisted staying. The player broadcasts his anger at being left out. The tension is no longer behind closed doors.

De Zerbi hinted at deeper issues but drew a firm line on how much he would reveal.

“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.”

So the stand-off hardens. A coach who says he has done all he can. A striker who feels frozen out and is not afraid to say so in front of millions. With the Brazilian window shut and the Carabao Cup campaign under way, the question now is simple: where does Richarlison fit in a Tottenham squad that is trying to move on without him?