Tottenham Excludes Richarlison from Premier League Squad
Richarlison’s name used to sit near the top of every Tottenham teamsheet. Now it is nowhere to be seen.
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed their official Premier League squad list, and the most striking omission is the 29-year-old Brazilian. Last season’s top scorer, with 11 goals in 32 league appearances, has been left in limbo – unregistered, unwanted, and firmly on the outside.
Injured players such as Simons and Odobert made the cut. Richarlison did not. The club have drawn a hard line after a summer in which the forward repeatedly pushed to leave.
Roberto De Zerbi has tried to keep his distance from the politics of the decision, but not from the player’s behaviour.
Speaking to the media, the Tottenham head coach laid bare how the relationship unravelled. “It was not my decision. It is the normal decision,” he said. “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 early conversation set the tone. Richarlison wanted out. Tottenham moved on.
De Zerbi underlined that the final call on registration sits with the hierarchy, not with him. “Then for everything and other problems, it is not my business and not my job. It is the responsibility of the club. 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.”
For a player who started the opening game of the campaign against Brentford, the fall has been brutal. He went from leading the line to losing his place in the squad altogether as the club reshaped its attack.
The arrivals have changed the landscape. Omar Marmoush joined from Manchester City, Mykhailo Mudryk arrived on loan from Chelsea, and Savio also came in from City. Each signing nudged Richarlison further down the pecking order. Eventually, he slipped off the list entirely.
De Zerbi has been consistent about what he wants: unity, edge, and players desperate to fight for the shirt, not for an exit route. His message was blunt.
“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.”
Tottenham have nailed their colours to the mast: the squad list is for believers only. Richarlison chose another path – and the door has quietly closed behind him.
