De Zerbi: Richarlison situation 'not my problem'

Roberto De Zerbi, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has publicly stated that the ongoing situation with Brazilian forward Richarlison is no longer within his purview. This comes after Richarlison shared comments from former Everton player Duncan Ferguson on social media, criticising his exclusion from the team.

Squad Exile and Social Media Activity

Richarlison has been absent from the Tottenham first-team squad throughout the current season. He was not named in the 25-player Premier League selection, preventing him from participating in league matches. His exclusion also extends to the FA Cup, with no indication of his potential return to the squad if he remains at the club in January.

Despite his first-team exile, Richarlison made an appearance for Tottenham in the EFL Trophy against Cheltenham last week. Following this, he amplified criticism from Duncan Ferguson, who suggested that leaving a player of Richarlison's caliber out of the squad implied a significant issue, such as a serious training ground altercation. Richarlison posted on his Instagram Stories, agreeing with Ferguson's assessment and stating, "Thanks Duncan Ferguson, you are right."

Manager's Response

Speaking to reporters at Hotspur Way on Sunday morning, ahead of a home fixture against Coventry, De Zerbi addressed Richarlison's social media activity. "It's not my problem any more. You have to ask Vinai or Johan. It's not my problem," De Zerbi told the press. He added that while he, as a coach, has a responsibility to support players, he has not made the decisions regarding Richarlison's current status.

De Zerbi indicated that he remains accessible to Richarlison. "If he wants to speak to me he can find me in my office until 8.30am until the evening," he said. However, the manager concluded by stating his immediate priority is the upcoming match. "But I don't want to speak any more because my focus is on the Coventry game."