Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi has axed Brazilian striker Richarlison from his squad for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool.
Richarlison was left out of Spurs’ 25-man Premier League player list submitted earlier this month after being informed he is not part of the club’s first-team plans, but he failed to secure a departure and is eligible to play in this cup competition.
However, De Zerbi confirmed ex-Everton forward Richarlison, who turned down a move to Vasco da Gama on Friday, will not feature despite boasting a strong record of four goals in seven meetings with Liverpool for Tottenham, who have yet to score in the league during the 2026-27 campaign.
“Richarlison, you already know everything and nothing change for Carabao Cup or Premier League. The situation is the same,” De Zerbi said.
“I stay in the middle and I can’t say nothing more because it is not my job. I can answer about the result and the players in the squad, the offensive phase, the defensive phase, but not for other things.
“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.
“I said last press conference. 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.
“I stay within the club. It’s coach and club together. At the start of this season I spoke to him many times to convince him to stay and he didn’t want to. I can’t go every day to pray for him to stay.”
by Linda Ikeji at 15/09/2026 11:36 AM|