Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison has posted a cryptic social media message amid reports he is nearing a return to former club Everton. Manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed the 29-year-old Brazilian has repeatedly expressed his desire to leave the North London club.
Richarlison's Instagram post featured a photograph of text reading 'I am the villain of many poorly told stories' alongside a thinking face emoji. The post was liked by Tottenham teammate Xavi Simons. This comes as Tottenham, who currently sit 20th in the Premier League with zero points from two games, prepare for their next fixture against Nottingham Forest.
Roberto De Zerbi provided a clear update on Richarlison's status ahead of the weekend's match. "Richarlison he said too many times that he wanted to leave," the Tottenham manager stated. De Zerbi also revealed that other players have expressed similar desires to depart, saying "[Kevin] Danso came to me two days ago and said he wanted to leave."
The manager's comments came after Richarlison was left out of Tottenham's squad for their 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle on Saturday. Tottenham's difficult start to the season sees them six points behind leaders Manchester City already, having scored zero goals while conceding five in their opening matches.
The reported deal would see Richarlison return to Everton for a fee of around £35 million. In a separate but potentially related move, Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye could move to Tottenham for a reported £60 million fee. Richarlison originally joined Tottenham from Everton in 2022 for £60 million after spending four seasons at Goodison Park.
During his time at Everton from 2018 to 2022, the Brazilian forward scored 53 goals in 152 games. His Tottenham career has yielded 32 goals in 134 matches, though he did start in their 1-0 Europa League final victory over Manchester United in 2025. Richarlison currently has one year remaining on his contract with Tottenham.
Tottenham's search for their first points of the campaign continues as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest away on September 5th. Forest currently sit 13th in the table, providing Tottenham with an opportunity to kickstart their season. Fans can track the team's progress on our standings page throughout what promises to be a challenging period.
The potential departure of Richarlison would represent a significant change to Tottenham's attacking options. His experience and previous success at Everton make him a valuable asset, but De Zerbi's comments suggest the relationship has reached a point where a separation benefits both parties. Tottenham will need to address their goal-scoring issues quickly, having failed to find the net in their opening two Premier League fixtures.
With the transfer window approaching its conclusion, Tottenham must resolve Richarlison's future while also addressing other squad concerns. The club's early season form has created urgency, and decisions made in the coming days could shape their entire campaign. Supporters can view the full squad list as it develops during this transitional period.
The immediate focus returns to the pitch where Tottenham desperately need a positive result against Nottingham Forest. Ending their goal drought and securing their first points would provide a much-needed boost. How the team responds to this off-field speculation will be telling as they attempt to climb from the bottom of the table.
