Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi has insisted that excluding Richarlison from the club’s Premier League squad was not his call.
Quick facts
- Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert were named despite their injuries.
- Richarlison was left out of Tottenham’s 25-player league squad.
- The Brazil striker had sought a move and came close to returning to Everton.
- The proposed transfer collapsed before Tuesday’s deadline.
Spurs submitted their 25-man list on Thursday, including injured pair Simons and Odobert. Richarlison’s absence was the most striking decision after a turbulent period for the forward.
De Zerbi said the 29-year-old had made clear that he wanted to leave Tottenham. Richarlison was reportedly nearing a comeback at former club Everton, but no agreement was completed before the transfer window shut on Tuesday.
“This was not my decision; it was the natural outcome,” De Zerbi said. He added that Richarlison had spoken to him at the start of pre-season and personally explained that his intention was to depart.
Tottenham subsequently moved to add another striker. De Zerbi said his policy from the opening of pre-season had been to retain only those players who genuinely wanted to remain, felt proud to represent the club and showed the necessary commitment.
He also said any wider issues surrounding the situation were outside his role. Responsibility for those matters, he stressed, belonged to Tottenham as a club rather than to him.
