MusaRoberto De Zerbi has made it clear that Richarlison’s ongoing situation at Tottenham Hotspur is no longer his responsibility after the Brazilian forward publicly backed criticism of the club’s handling of his exclusion from the first team.
Richarlison made it clear during the summer transfer window that he wanted to leave Tottenham, but a proposed return to former club Everton failed to materialise. A potential move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also collapsed after the UK transfer deadline had passed.
Consequently, the 29-year-old has found himself on the fringes of Tottenham’s first-team plans. Having been omitted from the club’s 25-man Premier League squad, Richarlison is ineligible to feature in the competition. His opportunities could remain limited in the coming months, with his involvement in the FA Cup also uncertain if he remains in North London.
Despite his difficult circumstances, the Brazilian recently made a surprising appearance for Tottenham in their EFL Trophy fixture against fourth-tier Cheltenham Town last week.
However, rather than easing tensions surrounding his situation, Richarlison has reignited the controversy by publicly agreeing with Everton legend Duncan Ferguson, who questioned Tottenham’s decision to leave the striker out of the first-team picture.
Speaking on The Overlap Daily, Ferguson expressed his disbelief at the situation, suggesting that an extraordinary incident would normally be required to justify excluding a player of Richarlison’s quality.
“You don’t leave a player like that out unless there’s been a real murder: he’s chinned him or there’s been a proper scrap on the training ground,” Ferguson said.
Richarlison subsequently shared Ferguson’s comments on his Instagram Stories on Saturday, adding a brief message of approval: “Thanks Duncan Ferguson, you are right.”
The post inevitably raised further questions about the relationship between the Brazilian forward and Tottenham’s coaching staff, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his future at the club.
De Zerbi was therefore asked about Richarlison’s latest social media activity when he faced the media at Hotspur Way on Sunday morning.
The Tottenham manager was addressing reporters ahead of Monday night’s crucial Premier League encounter against newly promoted Coventry City, a fixture that carries significant importance for Spurs as they look to secure a much-needed victory.
However, De Zerbi appeared determined to distance himself from the growing controversy, insisting that the responsibility for resolving Richarlison’s situation lies elsewhere within the club.
“It’s not my problem any more. You have to ask Vinai or Johan. It’s not my problem,” De Zerbi told reporters.
The Italian manager acknowledged that coaches are often expected to take responsibility for difficult situations, even when the decisions involved are not entirely theirs to make.
“I know as a coach I have to support and take responsibility even when it’s not my responsibility,” he added.
De Zerbi also insisted that he had not personally made the decision at the centre of the controversy, while leaving the door open for Richarlison to speak with him directly if the forward wished to discuss the matter.
“I have not decided anything in this situation. If he wants to speak to me he can find me in my office until 8.30am until the evening,” the Spurs boss explained.
Nevertheless, De Zerbi made it clear that he would not allow the ongoing disagreement to distract him from preparations for the Coventry clash.
“But I don’t want to speak any more because my focus is on the Coventry game.”
His comments suggest that Tottenham’s immediate priority is securing a positive result rather than becoming embroiled in further public exchanges over Richarlison’s future.
With the Brazilian still facing an uncertain path back into the first-team setup, questions remain over whether the situation can be resolved before the next transfer window.
For now, De Zerbi appears determined to concentrate on matters on the pitch, leaving the club’s hierarchy to address the wider issues surrounding the forward’s exclusion.
Musa
