Richarlison's Outburst Over Carabao Cup Omission

Richarlison’s anger at being left out of Tottenham’s Carabao Cup squad has burst into the open, adding another layer of tension to an already fragile situation between the Brazilian forward and the club.

The 29-year-old was omitted from Roberto de Zerbi’s matchday group for Tuesday night’s tie against Liverpool. He did not take the decision quietly. Instead, Richarlison posted a screenshot of a social media report on his exclusion and added a single-word caption: “Why?” followed by a tearful, sad-faced emoji.

One word, one emoji, and a very public message to his manager and to Tottenham.

The outburst comes just days after a proposed move back to Brazil collapsed. Vasco da Gama had pushed to bring Richarlison home, and sources indicated a fee had been agreed between the clubs before the Brazilian transfer window shut on Friday. The deal stalled on personal terms, which were not finalised in time, leaving the forward still in north London and still unsettled.

De Zerbi did not hide his frustration when he spoke on Monday, ahead of the Liverpool tie. He painted a picture of a manager who felt he had already done his part.

“At the start of this season, I spoke to him many times to convince him to stay and he didn't want to,” De Zerbi said. “I can't go every day to pray for him to stay.”

The Italian stressed that Tottenham had tried to secure Richarlison’s commitment.

“What I have done at the beginning of this season has been to speak with him and to propose an extension of the contract. If he said, 'no thank you,' I finished my job.”

Those words land heavily when set against the player’s public complaint. A manager insisting his responsibility is done. A player asking the world why he is being left out.

De Zerbi hinted at deeper issues behind the scenes but drew a clear line over how much he was willing to reveal.

“I know what happened in the last 45 days. It's not right if I explained. It's not my behaviour. The relationship, the problem is between the player and the club.”

So the stand-off hardens. A forward who tried to leave but stayed. A coach who says he won’t beg. A club that saw a transfer fall apart at the last moment.

Liverpool arrive in the Carabao Cup, but for Tottenham, the real battle may be working out whether Richarlison still has a future in this dressing room at all.