De Zerbi: Richarlison refused to extend Tottenham contract

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has addressed the ongoing situation regarding forward Richarlison. The Italian coach confirmed that the Brazilian is not expected to return to the first-team fold, stating that his status remains unchanged for both Premier League and League Cup fixtures.

De Zerbi revealed that he personally attempted to resolve the issue early in the season by speaking with the player about a contract extension. However, the forward refused the offer, leading the manager to consider the matter closed.

You already know everything. Regarding the League Cup and the Premier League, the situation has not changed. Everything remains as it was. I hold a neutral position. My job is to be responsible for the results, the players, and the team's attack and defense. At the beginning of the season, I talked to him and proposed a contract extension. He refused. After that, my job was done. Roberto De Zerbi

The tension surfaced at the end of the summer transfer window when the forward refused to leave the club, a move which subsequently led to him being excluded from first-team training.