Roberto De Zerbi has finally addressed the Richarlison saga — and the Tottenham manager is keeping his cards firmly pressed to his chest as his exiled striker pushes for a dramatic escape from north London.
The Brazilian forward has been frozen out by Spurs after approaching FIFA in an attempt to unilaterally terminate his contract, a move that came after he was left out of the club's 25-man Premier League squad for the new season.
De Zerbi: "I don't know. It's not my job"
Speaking at his press conference ahead of Tottenham's trip to Manchester United on Saturday, De Zerbi offered little clarity on one of the most extraordinary stand-offs of the season, per talkSPORT.
"I don't know. I don't know," the Spurs boss said. "It's not my job. All I can say is that I know what the club has done for Richarlison and what Richarlison has done for the club in the last few months. He knows, his agent knows, the club knows, better than you [the media]. Much better."
It was a carefully guarded response from a manager already under serious pressure. Spurs are enduring the worst start to a season in the club's history after five matchweeks, with no club forward yet to score in the league — a grim backdrop to a saga that has dragged on for months.
The FIFA gambit
The dispute reached breaking point when Richarlison, who is in the final year of his contract, notified Tottenham of his intention to file a unilateral termination request with FIFA, believing the club's decision to demote him to train with the under-21s and exclude him from the Premier League squad gave him legitimate grounds to tear up his deal.
The case drew comparisons with Renan Lodi, who left Al-Hilal through a similar FIFA mechanism before signing with Atlético Mineiro. But Richarlison ultimately pulled back from the nuclear option, reportedly because pushing ahead risked derailing negotiations with Vasco da Gama.
A summer of chaos
The 29-year-old's relationship with Tottenham has been crumbling since the summer window. According to Fabrizio Romano, the striker rejected a deadline-day return to Everton — a deal that would have allowed Spurs to sign Iliman Ndiaye — before a proposal from Trabzonspor was accepted by the player but blocked by the club.
Then came Vasco da Gama, the club closest to Richarlison's heart, and the collapse of that move over loan limits and fees plunged the saga into the desperate territory that eventually led to FIFA being contacted.
Romano's verdict is stark: the relationship is "completely broken" and Tottenham see him as "completely out" of their project. The winter window represents Spurs' last chance to generate a fee before the final six months of his deal — and January is now seen as the moment both parties finally part ways.
What next for Richarlison?
For now, the striker trains away from the first team while De Zerbi and his squad head to Old Trafford this weekend, where fitness problems have left Spurs' squad even thinner. Whether Richarlison ever wears the shirt again is a question De Zerbi refused to answer — and the longer the silence goes on, the more January feels like the inevitable full stop.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's own transfer battles continue to rumble, with the JJ Gabriel saga showing how ruthless the game's biggest clubs are becoming with disgruntled talent.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Richarlison's Tottenham career is running on fumes — the club has exiled him, FIFA has been approached, and De Zerbi won't even discuss his future. A January exit is the only sensible outcome now; the only question is whether Spurs accept a cut-price fee or let him walk for nothing in the summer. Where should he go: back to Brazil with Vasco, or one last Premier League chance? Have your say in the comments.
