Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he is unsure whether Richarlison will stay at the club beyond the summer transfer window. Even though the Brazil forward scored a dramatic late winner against rivals Chelsea, his future in North London is still far from clear.
Uncertainty continues to surround the Brazil international.
Richarlison underlined his value to Tottenham once again by scoring an injury-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup. But after the match in Australia, the main talking point was De Zerbi’s honest assessment of the striker’s longer-term future at the club.
Speaking at Accor Stadium after the high-profile friendly, De Zerbi admitted he does not fully know what the coming weeks will bring for the former Everton forward. “I don't know because I like him as a player and as a guy,” the Italian coach told reporters. “He's unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do.”
Mixed messages from the Spurs forward
The central issue appears to be Richarlison’s own uncertainty over whether he wants to continue as part of Tottenham’s project under De Zerbi. Since joining Spurs from Everton in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth £50m plus £10m in possible add-ons - and after helping the club win the UEFA Europa League title in the 2024-25 season - the attacker’s future is now in doubt. When De Zerbi was asked directly if the striker had clearly requested a transfer, he suggested the player’s indications had been anything but consistent.
De Zerbi explained the situation by saying: “I don't know. I didn't understand well because sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He's a lovely guy.”
A dependable goalscorer in a season of turmoil
In spite of the uncertainty, De Zerbi was quick to recognise Richarlison’s importance during a difficult season for the club. Tottenham’s previous campaign was defined by major instability, which led to De Zerbi being appointed in late March to replace Igor Tudor in a rescue job - one that eventually ended with Spurs narrowly escaping relegation by finishing 17th. Amid all that disruption, the Brazil forward still scored 12 goals. The Italian manager knows replacing a striker with that kind of output would be a major challenge in the current market, especially given Richarlison’s work ethic and professional attitude on the training ground.
“For me, he's still an important player because it's not easy to find another striker like Richarlison,” De Zerbi added. “Richarlison scores goals. He knows the way. With any new striker, we don't know. He scored 12 goals last season, not because of luck but because he knows how to score. All of us love him - the team-mates, the club and the staff - because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can't say anything about him on the pitch.”
Tottenham’s ambitious transfer strategy
The discussion around Richarlison’s future comes while Tottenham are moving very aggressively in the transfer market. The club have already launched a record £237m spending spree as they aim to rebuild the squad and challenge towards the top of the table. Even if Richarlison remains at the club, Spurs are reportedly still looking to bring in at least two more top-level attacking players to give De Zerbi greater tactical options.
Manchester City’s Savinho is understood to be one of the main targets for the North London club, while Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has also been strongly linked with a move to the capital. If Richarlison ultimately decides that his future is away from Tottenham, those potential signings will become even more important.
