Richarlison explains failed Vasco move as Tottenham exile leaves striker stranded

Breakdown of the Vasco transfer

Richarlison confirmed in a video posted to Instagram that negotiations over a transfer to Vasco da Gama collapsed before the Brazilian transfer window closed at 11:00 PM local time on Friday. The 29-year-old forward stated that he wanted to join the Rio de Janeiro club on a short-term loan until December 2026, which coincides with the end of the Brazilian club season. Tottenham Hotspur could not complete the temporary deal because the English club had already reached the regulatory limit for players loaned abroad. Vasco director of football Admar Lopes and club directors Pedrinho and Felipe then proposed a permanent transfer with a three-and-a-half-year contract, but Richarlison and his representatives rejected the deal due to its length. The forward told Vasco supporters that playing for the club remained a personal ambition for him, his grandfather, and his family, expressing hope of playing at the Sao Januario stadium in the Barreira district in the future.

We were very close to me signing with Vasco. My heart's club, the club of my entire family. It was close.

Contract dispute and collapsed moves

The breakdown in negotiations with Vasco follows a series of failed transfer attempts and growing friction between Richarlison and Tottenham management. The attacker is in a dispute with Tottenham regarding the final nine months of his contract, although Tottenham retain an option to trigger a 12-month extension. On September 1, Tottenham agreed a £35 million transfer fee with Everton, but Richarlison turned down the personal terms offered by his former club. Two days later, on September 3, Tottenham excluded the forward from their official 25-man Premier League squad for the season. Turkish club Trabzonspor also attempted to sign Richarlison before the Turkish transfer window shut on September 4, but those discussions ended without an agreement.

First-team exile and De Zerbi comments

Richarlison has been training with Tottenham's under-21 squad following his removal from the senior squad list. The forward has not played for the first team since Tottenham's 3-0 defeat against Brentford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of a home match against Everton, Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi stated that the decision to leave Richarlison out of the squad was a direct consequence of the player's choice to pursue a departure.

What I can say is I know very well what the club has done for Richarlison and I know very well what Richarlison has done for the club in the last month, two months.

De Zerbi stated that he had attempted to convince Richarlison to stay during the summer but maintained that he held no personal regrets regarding how the past 45 days unfolded.

Current squad situations

Richarlison finished as Tottenham's top scorer in the Premier League during the previous campaign with 11 goals, helping the club avoid relegation. Tottenham entered Saturday's fixture against Everton winless in the league and still searching for their first domestic goal of the season. Following the conclusion of talks with Richarlison, Vasco da Gama completed six other signings before the Brazilian deadline under manager Pedro Emanuel, securing Gabriel Pereira, Paulinho, Sosa, Lescano, Colidio, and Bruno Duarte. Richarlison remains with Tottenham as he assesses his options ahead of the European transfer window reopening in January.