Richarlison's inclusion in Roberto De Zerbi's starting lineup on the opening weekend of the season suggested the Brazilian still had a future in North London.
It was that time of year when Richy tends to come up trumps. In 2025, he capitalised on Dominic Solanke's injury and produced the goods in Spurs' opening few games of the season to convince Thomas Frank that he couldn't be sold.
And with Solanke losing the faith of much of the fanbase during the back end of last season, Richarlison had another chance to stake his claim.
Since the opening weekend, though, Richy failed to get on the pitch against Newcastle United, as new signing Omar Marmoush immediately earned the starting job, and he was left off De Zerbi's Premier League squad for 2026/27, which the Italian insisted was not his decision.
“He [Richarlison] decided everything. Not me, not the club," De Zerbi said.
Richarlison running out of transfer solutions despite fresh agreement
The situation has turned messy. Despite Richarlison telling De Zerbi at the start of preseason that he wanted to leave the club this summer, it wasn't until the final few days of the transfer window in Europe when it looked like the Brazilian would get his wish.
Supporters blamed his failed return to Everton as the primary reason why Iliman Ndiaye didn't head in the opposite direction, but the Senegalese international's comments have proven that not to be the case. The two deals were independent of one another, and Ndiaye was desperate to play in the Champions League. As soon as Manchester City came in, we had no chance.
After the Premier League's transfer deadline came and went, Spurs reportedly rejected a couple of bids from Trabzonspor, the second of which was worth £20m.
The Turkish club pivoted to an alternative option, and no offers arrived from the Saudi Pro League. As it stands, Richy is at a crossroads.
Brazilian outlet Globo (via Daily Hotspur) reports that the Spurs striker has accepted an offer from Vasco da Gama, believed to be a loan lasting until December. However, this deal is impossible, as FIFA rules state that clubs can only have six players out on loan abroad at any one time. Spurs currently have Pape Matar Sarr, Radu Dragusin, Guglielmo Vicario, Souza, Kota Takai and Min-hyeok Yang enjoying temporary spells overseas.
So, I don't know what the solution is. Unless a Brazilian club is willing to buy the 29-year-old permanently, Richarlison's going to spend the next few months in the wilderness before leaving in January.
It's a sad way for him to go out, even if his Spurs career was ultimately a disappointment.
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