Roberto De Zerbi has publicly washed his hands of Richarlison's Tottenham exile, insisting the frozen-out Brazil striker's future is "not my problem any more" and pointing reporters towards the club's hierarchy on the eve of a must-win game against Coventry City.
The Tottenham head coach was pressed on Richarlison at his pre-match press conference on Sunday morning, after the forward's latest social media outburst reignited a saga that has dragged on all season. His answer, reported by football.london, was as blunt as it gets.
'Not My Problem Any More'
"It's not my problem any more," De Zerbi said. "You have to ask Vinai [Venkatesham] or Johan [Lange]. It's not my problem. I know as a coach I have to support and take responsibility even when it's not my responsibility.
"I have not decided anything in this situation. If he wants to speak to me he can find me in my office until 8.30 until the evening. But I don't want to speak any more because my focus is on the Coventry game."
Richarlison was left out of Tottenham's 25-man Premier League squad this season and tried to engineer a move away during the summer transfer window, to no avail. His only Premier League appearance came in the 3-0 defeat to Brentford, where he lasted 68 minutes before being substituted, and he has since been cast out in the cold — this week he was reduced to turning out for Spurs' Under-21s against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy, scoring a brace in a 2-2 draw before the League Two side won on penalties. The exile follows the contract dispute that first split the striker and the club earlier this month.
Ferguson Fires Back, Richarlison Responds
The latest flare-up began when Everton icon Duncan Ferguson, who coached Richarlison at Goodison Park, publicly questioned the snub. "I don't know if they've had a massive fall-out, and knowing Richy they probably have, but you've got to put your arm around him and say, 'Come on, Richy,' and get him back in," Ferguson said.
"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. Richarlison's a good player, and Tottenham are not that great, are they? It's all hands-on deck. You need all your assets out there."
Richarlison quickly shared the quotes to his Instagram story with the caption: "Thanks @duncan9ferguson. You are right." As Spurs Web noted, it was a public dig at his own head coach — and De Zerbi's response on Sunday suggests the relationship has now broken down completely, with the manager openly admitting the decision sits with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and technical director Johan Lange, not with him.
What This Means for Spurs and Coventry
The timing could hardly be worse. Tottenham sit bottom of the Premier League with three points from six matches, still searching for a first win of the season, and Monday night's visit of Coventry City has become a must-win for De Zerbi. The one piece of good news is the return of Dejan Kulusevski to the matchday squad after more than 500 days out — but a fit, motivated Richarlison is exactly the kind of chaos agent a goal-shy, winless side needs, and instead he will watch from outside the squad while his manager and his club argue over whose call it is.
For Richarlison, the road back now looks closed until January at the earliest: ineligible for league fixtures, out of the first-team picture and left with Under-21 football as his only competitive outlet unless a mid-season exit can be arranged.
Beyond the Final Whistle: A manager saying a senior international is "not my problem" is extraordinary — and it tells you the Richarlison decision was never really De Zerbi's. But washing his hands in public helps nobody: Spurs are bottom, short of goals and burning one of their most saleable assets while the manager and the board point at each other. Should De Zerbi swallow his pride and bring Richarlison back in, or is the striker's Tottenham career over for good? Tell us in the comments.
