Shearer Warns De Zerbi’s Richarlison Decision Could Become a Major Tottenham Problem
Alan Shearer believes Roberto De Zerbi could be left dealing with a difficult situation at Tottenham throughout the season after leaving Richarlison out of the club’s Premier League squad.
The Brazilian forward remains under contract at Spurs but is now unable to feature in league matches after De Zerbi was forced to leave out one non-homegrown player to meet squad-registration requirements.
Richarlison had opportunities to leave Tottenham before the transfer window closed. Everton were reportedly interested in bringing him back, while Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also explored a possible deal. However, neither move materialised, leaving the 29-year-old at Tottenham without a place in De Zerbi’s Premier League plans.
The situation appeared to become even more uncomfortable following Tottenham’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool. Despite being eligible to play in the competition, Richarlison was not included in the matchday squad and appeared to question the decision on social media with a simple: “why?”
Speaking to Betfair, as reported by Football London, Shearer suggested that De Zerbi is unlikely to reverse his decision. He believes Tottenham could be left paying the forward’s wages while having a player who is unhappy with his situation around the squad.
Shearer also pointed to Tottenham’s poor start as an additional concern. Spurs have failed to win any of their opening four Premier League matches and have yet to score a goal, increasing the pressure on De Zerbi.
Tottenham have reportedly spent more than £320 million rebuilding their squad over the past year, and Shearer believes the club’s hierarchy will now be expecting results. He stressed that De Zerbi urgently needs a victory and that the team’s performances so far have offered little encouragement.
Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa could therefore be particularly important for the manager. With a three-week international break coming afterwards, another disappointing result could leave De Zerbi facing even greater scrutiny.
At the same time, Richarlison’s unresolved situation continues to hang over the club as Tottenham search for a way to finally find their goalscoring form.
