De Zerbi Leaves Richarlison Situation to Tottenham as Coventry Clash Looms
Roberto De Zerbi has distanced himself from the Richarlison dispute, declaring the forward’s situation is “not my problem any more” as Tottenham prepare for Monday night’s crucial home meeting with Coventry City.
De Zerbi passes Richarlison issue to Tottenham hierarchy
Richarlison has been left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad and placed with the Under-21s after proposed summer moves failed to materialise. The Brazil international’s exclusion has become a public flashpoint during a disastrous opening stretch for De Zerbi’s side.
Former Everton manager Duncan Ferguson criticised the treatment of the striker, suggesting Tottenham should be supporting rather than isolating him. Ferguson said there may have been a major falling-out, but argued that a player of Richarlison’s stature should not be discarded without an exceptional reason.
Richarlison subsequently backed Ferguson on Instagram, replying: “Thanks @duncan9ferguson, you are right.”
Asked about the matter on Sunday, De Zerbi said questions should instead be directed to chief executive Vinai Venkatesham or technical director Johan Lange.
Marbella camp aimed at repairing a fractured start
De Zerbi has taken his squad to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp, with Spurs bottom of the Premier League and still without a victory after six matches. The club spent £380 million ($505m) on 10 arrivals during the summer, but the heavily changed group has yet to find cohesion.
The manager imposed a no-phone rule at breakfast, lunch and dinner in an effort to make players speak to one another and spend more meaningful time together away from training.
“We trained and stayed together,” De Zerbi said, explaining that phones had been removed during meals because players are otherwise on them constantly.
The trip also included two or three meetings focused on Tottenham’s league position, football issues and the responsibility required from every member of the group. Players and staff also held separate dinners.
- Tottenham completed a major rebuild, bringing in 10 summer signings for £380m.
- A winless six-game league run left De Zerbi’s team at the foot of the table.
- The squad travelled to Marbella, where meal-time phone use was prohibited and internal meetings were held.
- Attention now turns to Coventry, with Tottenham needing their first Premier League win on Monday.
Manager seeks solutions without “military rules”
De Zerbi said a coach must look for ways to improve a struggling situation and insisted the Marbella plan was a collective decision involving Venkatesham, Lange and the club’s owner.
He has previously used similar mid-season camps twice while in charge of Marseille and believes they can help. Pre-season had not provided enough time for the full group to bond, he said, because of the influx of newcomers and players returning from the World Cup.
De Zerbi described several days away from families, with the club given priority, as a normal and positive step. He stressed, however, that the players were free to explore Marbella during their spare time.
“There are no military rules,” he said. “I love freedom.”
Coventry test becomes immediate pressure point
Tottenham must now show that the camp has had an effect when Coventry visit on Monday evening. Anything other than three points would deepen pressure on De Zerbi and intensify scrutiny of an expensive rebuild already marked by visible internal tension.
- Spurs are last in the Premier League after six matches without a win.
- De Zerbi used the Marbella trip to demand greater accountability and improve integration.
- Mobile phones were barred during shared meals, though players retained freedom outside the camp schedule.
- Richarlison remains outside the league squad, with De Zerbi referring the issue to club executives.
- Monday’s Coventry fixture is a must-win moment in Tottenham’s attempt to stabilise their season.
