Richarlison’s Spurs return leaves January question unanswered
Richarlison scored for Tottenham Under-21s against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy, but the 2-2 draw and 7-6 shootout defeat did nothing to change his Premier League status. The £60m striker also scored his penalty, yet remains outside Spurs’ 25-man league squad.
The appearance offered a rare chance for competitive minutes, not evidence of a route back into Roberto De Zerbi’s senior plans. Richarlison’s Premier League squad omission remains the central fact after his return to action.
A rare outing after the squad decision
According to the BBC, Richarlison was making only his second appearance of the season and his first since the end of August, when he featured against Brentford. Tottenham left him out of their 25-man Premier League squad in September, following a summer in which his proposed move back to Everton fell through.
The 29-year-old’s half-volley put his finishing back on show, and he converted from the spot after Cheltenham forced a shootout. But Spurs’ reserves were eliminated, and the EFL Trophy group stage appears to offer him only a limited opportunity for competitive football before January.
De Zerbi said Richarlison had made his wish to leave clear at the start of pre-season. The manager also said the squad-registration decision was the club’s responsibility and that he had not made it; the failed transfer and his removal from the league list have left the forward’s situation unresolved. A possible exit or return to De Zerbi’s plans remains an open question, not an outcome confirmed by this appearance.
The goal does not settle Spurs’ attacking problem
Richarlison has scored 27 Premier League goals in 103 appearances for Tottenham and was the club’s leading scorer in the competition last season. Spurs had scored only three league goals and sat second bottom at the time of the BBC report, making his omission a conspicuous selection decision amid their attacking struggles.
Dominic Solanke’s late equaliser at Manchester United was Tottenham’s first Premier League goal from a forward since Richarlison scored against Chelsea in May. The club had spent £300m on summer recruits, but one Under-21 goal cannot establish that Richarlison would solve the wider problem; the BBC’s assessment was that having him available in the league squad may have been more useful than restricting him to lower-tier fixtures.
The Cheltenham match changes neither his registration nor confirms a transfer. January is the next clear point at which the situation could move, while this EFL Trophy outing remains a rare competitive appearance before then.
