De Zerbi says Richarlison’s Tottenham future remains uncertain
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Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi has said the club remains unsure whether forward Richarlison will stay beyond this summer, with the Brazilian reportedly wavering between wanting to stay and wanting to leave. The uncertainty carries added weight because Richarlison has entered the final year of his contract, while Spurs press on with an extensive rebuild of their attacking options.
Richarlison, 29, underlined his value by scoring a stoppage-time winner as 10-man Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-1 in a friendly in Sydney, part of the Sydney Super Cup. De Zerbi praised his professionalism and his 12 goals last season, saying a replacement of similar quality would not be easy to find, even as the club's record £237m transfer spending continues with reported interest in Manchester City's Savinho and Liverpool's Cody Gakpo. No transfer decision has been confirmed, and the situation stands as described, with De Zerbi stressing there is "no problem" and that the club will simply need to talk things through with the player.
- Richarlison's Tottenham future still undecided, says De Zerbi
- Forward scored stoppage-time winner in Sydney friendly win over Chelsea
- Spurs' £237m spending spree continues amid Savinho, Gakpo interest
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Richarlison is a Brazilian forward who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Everton in 2022. He has also been a regular international player for Brazil, and is valued for his pressing, physical play and ability to score in central attacking positions.
Tottenham are one of England’s leading clubs, but have been trying to rebuild their squad and improve their results in recent seasons. A player entering the final year of a contract can leave for another club more easily, so decisions about whether to keep, sell or replace them can affect both the team’s plans and finances.
Roberto de Zerbi is Tottenham’s manager and is responsible for setting the team’s style and selecting players. The club’s interest in other forwards suggests it is considering several options as it shapes its attack for the coming season.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Richarlison demonstrated proven quality with 12 goals last season and marked professionalism, whilst De Zerbi himself acknowledged that finding a replacement of similar standard would be difficult. Retaining an experienced performer during a complex rebuild provides stability and immediate quality, allowing younger signings to integrate around established strengths. The practical difficulty of replacing genuine scorers makes continuity a sensible strategic choice.
The case against
At 29 in his final contract year, Richarlison's departure presents an opportunity to accelerate squad renewal with younger players offering longer-term value. Given Tottenham's ambitious spending already underway and reported pursuit of talents like Savinho and Gakpo, the club appears aligned toward injecting fresher options across the attacking line. Prolonged uncertainty about an ageing player's commitment becomes inefficient; redirecting those resources toward multiple positions with higher-ceiling prospects better serves a genuine rebuild trajectory.
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Originally published by BBC Sport as “‘Sometimes he wants to leave’ – De Zerbi on Richarlison’s Spurs future”.