Richarlison wants Tottenham Hotspur to terminate his contract so he can move to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama as a free agent, according to reports.
The 29-year-old forward, who was Tottenham's top scorer with 11 goals last season, failed to secure a transfer before deadline day and is now training alone after being left out of manager Roberto De Zerbi's official 25-man Premier League squad. He has been relegated to the club's Under-21 squad.
Richarlison is a Brazil international forward who has represented his country at multiple World Cups, including at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Richarlison had been linked with a return to Everton, the club he left to join Tottenham in 2022, as part of a deadline-day swap deal involving Iliman Ndiaye. That move ultimately collapsed, paving the way for Ndiaye to join Manchester City instead for £65 million.
Vasco move and legal action
According to the Brazilian outlet Globo, Richarlison is furious with Tottenham's decision not to register him for the Premier League and wants the north London club to tear up his contract so he can join Vasco as a free agent.
Globo reported that Richarlison's lawyers are set to file a request in court to terminate the deal, which is due to expire at the end of the season. It is also reported that Richarlison wishes to play for the Rio de Janeiro club until December 2026 before considering his options. Vasco da Gama are one of Brazil's most decorated clubs, based in Rio de Janeiro.
Richarlison's case resembles that of fellow Brazilian Renan Lodi, who claimed in court last year that he had been prevented from practising his profession after being left out of Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League squad. Lodi went on to sign for Atletico Mineiro after securing the unilateral termination of his contract.
De Zerbi says exile is of Richarlison's own making
Last week, De Zerbi told Richarlison his Tottenham exile is a problem entirely of his own making, revealing that the Brazilian had rejected contract talks at the start of the summer.
Tottenham signed Manchester City duo Omar Marmoush and Savinho this summer to bolster De Zerbi's attacking options, after the club narrowly avoided relegation the previous campaign.
"You don't know one important thing," De Zerbi said before Tottenham's 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
At the beginning of pre-season I spoke to Richarlison and asked him if he wanted to extend his contract because I was happy to keep him with us, and he didn't want to. So, Richarlison is a good player, yes. He was important last season, yes very important. He's a good guy, yes. But in the end, I have to stop myself putting pressure on the players if the players show me they want to leave. So, I'm sorry for him but we have to go to another page and work with Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush.
