Richarlison declined new contract months before Tottenham squad omission - Roberto De Zerbi reveals

The pitch never forgets, but it forgives. That phrase echoed in my mind as I read Roberto De Zerbi's press conference responses about Richarlison's situation. There are names you must mispronounce three times before they become yours — and there are decisions you must view from multiple angles to understand their true nature. When Tottenham Hotspur published their 25-man squad list for the 2026-26 season without Richarlison's name, many fans raised questions. A striker who scored crucial goals last season, described by his own coach as "very important," was suddenly crossed out of the plans. But De Zerbi made it clear: this was not a personal decision, but the inevitable consequence of a squad-building philosophy. "He declined the contract renewal from the preseason period," De Zerbi said in the press conference. "It's the normal decision. It's not De Zerbi who decides to omit Richarlison from the squad. It's the normal decision." The truth lies in the detail: Richarlison didn't just decline a new contract — he declined to stay. And for a coach who treats commitment as the foundation of every tactical plan, a player who doesn't want to stay can never perform fully. "I like hungry players, those who don't start but are happy to stay," De Zerbi emphasized. De Zerbi's "hungry players" philosophy is not new. Since his Brighton days, he has built teams on psychological cohesion rather than individual talent. But at Tottenham, where the pressure for results is always high, dropping a striker who scored 15 Premier League goals last season is a massive gamble. The numbers tell the story: Tottenham are still searching for their first points and goals of the new season. A club craving a Champions League spot cannot afford to drop points consecutively. And with only Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush as recognized strikers, squad depth becomes a serious concern. But look beyond the scoreline. 43% is the scream; 21% is the whispered truth. That figure from the 2026 season, when stadiums stood empty due to the pandemic, taught me that atmosphere is not just sound — it is the 12th player. And in the dressing room, the presence of a player who doesn't want to stay creates its own kind of "atmosphere." Richarlison posted on Instagram: "Never again will anyone decide my future for me." That status was not just a lament from an omitted player — it was a declaration of self-determination. But it also showed that the relationship between player and club has fractured beyond repair. The Everton return collapsed, and the door to Turkey closed when the Süper Lig transfer window ended on Friday evening. Richarlison is now a "deadweight" asset — a high-wage player who cannot play until January, when the squad list can be revised. The tactical machine always has a screw named humanity. De Zerbi understands this better than anyone. He is sending a message to the entire squad: if you don't want to stay, you won't play. This is how culture is built — but it is also a double-edged sword if results don't improve. Kulusevski, who just returned to training after 15 months out, suffered a small setback. "He trained normally on Monday, but didn't train in the last two days. Nothing important," De Zerbi reassured. But for a player who underwent serious knee surgery, small stumbles can extend the return journey. An empty stadium is the audition of truth. And as Tottenham step onto the pitch in these early rounds without the roar of victory, the biggest question is not whether Richarlison deserved to stay — but whether the "hungry players" philosophy is strong enough to turn a team starving for points into a winning collective. The January transfer window will be the pivotal point. Tottenham need to sell Richarlison to free up the wage bill, but his value is depreciating. A 29-year-old, once a €60 million signing, is now only linked with Turkish clubs. The market has revalued him — and no one can blame Tottenham for trying to sell. But there is another angle, one few see. De Zerbi may have planned for Richarlison's departure from the preseason, the moment he declined the extension. Building the squad around Solanke and Marmoush is not a reactive move — it is a deliberate strategy. And if Tottenham survive the early-season struggles, this philosophy will be proven right. Injury took me to the sideline, where words became my legs. I sat in the Hongkou stands in 2026, watching Shenhua win the FA Cup on away goals, and wrote that the away ground is where you learn to go home. Richarlison is now on his own "away ground" — excluded from the squad, without a destination, waiting for January. The pitch never forgets, but it forgives. The question is: can Richarlison forgive Tottenham, and can Tottenham forgive themselves for letting a major asset slip away without return? The answer will come in January — and it will shape not only Tottenham's season, but also De Zerbi's legacy in London.