Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi has admitted he is in the dark regarding the future of Brazilian forward Richarlison, revealing the 29-year-old has been sending mixed signals about his desire to stay in north London.
Richarlison recently reminded fans of his value by netting a stoppage-time winner for a 10-man Tottenham side in their 2-1 pre-season victory over Chelsea in Sydney. However, with the striker entering the final year of his contract, questions are swirling over his long-term commitment to the club.
Speaking at Accor Stadium after the dramatic friendly win, De Zerbi openly discussed the uncertainty surrounding his star forward.
"I don't know because I like him as a player and as a guy. He's unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do," De Zerbi explained.
When pressed on whether the Brazilian had explicitly asked for a transfer, the Italian manager painted a picture of a player torn between two choices.
"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."
Despite a tumultuous campaign last year that saw Spurs fighting off a shock relegation threat, Richarlison still managed to bag 12 goals. De Zerbi was quick to praise that output and the forward's relentless work ethic, emphasizing how difficult it would be to replace a proven Premier League goalscorer.
"For me, he's still an important player because it's not easy to find another striker like Richarlison," De Zerbi noted. "He scored 12 goals last season, not because of luck but because he knows how to score. All of us love him... because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can't say anything about him on the pitch."
The ambiguity surrounding Richarlison's future comes against the backdrop of a massive squad overhaul at Tottenham. The club has already flexed its financial muscle with a record-breaking £237 million transfer window spend. That figure could climb even higher, as Spurs remain heavily linked with additional attacking reinforcements, including Manchester City's Savinho and Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.