Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has publicly urged striker Richarlison to clarify his intentions regarding his future with the club. De Zerbi stated that while he and the team value Richarlison, the final decision rests with the player.
Richarlison, 29, recently scored a stoppage-time winner in a friendly match against Chelsea, securing a 2-1 victory for Spurs. Despite his contributions, De Zerbi admitted to a lack of clarity regarding the Brazilian's aspirations.
"I don't know. I like him as a player, as a guy, it's unbelievable the attitude and behaviour, but at the end we have to respect what he wants to do," De Zerbi said. "And we know. Every one of us knows what he wants to do, but for me he's still an important player, because it's not so easy to find another striker like Richarlison."
De Zerbi highlighted Richarlison's scoring record, noting his 12 goals last season were not a matter of luck but a demonstration of his ability to find the net. He expressed concern about finding a suitable replacement should Richarlison depart.
When questioned about whether Richarlison's statements indicated a desire to leave, De Zerbi replied, "I don't know, I didn't understand well, because sometimes he said to stay, sometimes he leaves. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem."
He further emphasized the striker's positive standing within the squad: "He's a lovely guy. All of us love him, the team-mates, the club, the staff, because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can't say anything on the pitch."
In related transfer news, De Zerbi commented on reports linking captain Cristian Romero with a move to Inter Milan, stating he had communicated with Romero about his return to London, not transfer matters, which he noted is outside his purview. "I know there are many solutions in the transfer market," he added.
Tottenham is scheduled to return to London for further pre-season training ahead of the Premier League season, while Chelsea, their recent friendly opponents, are continuing their tour in Asia.