Richarlison has rejected a permanent move to Vasco da Gama despite the Brazilian club agreeing an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur, sporting director Ademar Lopez said.
Vasco waited until the final day of the transfer window to bring the 29-year-old striker back to Brazil, but their efforts ultimately failed.
Richarlison rejects Vasco transfer, Tottenham fail to exit
Lopez revealed that Vasco has made a formal offer to buy the Tottenham striker and is doing everything possible to convince him to return.
“We tried everything. We made a purchase offer in good faith, but what happened was that the player did not accept the terms of a permanent transfer,” Lopez said (quoted by Sporting Mole).
“We tried our best to convince him until the last day, but the player refused and said it was not the right time to return to Brazil.”
The revelation adds another twist to Richarlison’s dramatic transfer saga.
The Brazilian has long wanted to leave Tottenham Hotspur and was linked with a return to Everton, but a move to Turkish side Trabzonspor failed to materialize.
With Vasco unable to convince him to return to Brazil, Richarlison ended up staying in north London after the transfer window closed.
However, his situation at Tottenham Hotspur remains extremely difficult.
Richarlison and Roberto De Zerbi fall out
The failed departure adds to Tottenham’s deteriorating situation, with Richarlison having been frozen out by head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Friction escalated after Richarlison made it clear he wanted to leave north London during pre-season.
De Zerbi responded firmly, choosing to leave the striker completely out of Tottenham Hotspur’s official 25-man Premier League squad.
The Italian coach further deepened the divide when he confirmed the Brazilian would not even take part in the domestic cup competition.
“Even if Richarlison is available, he will not play. Not even in the Carabao Cup,” declared De Zerbi.
The stance prompted a public response from Richarlison on social media, who questioned his outright exile.
With his chance to return to Brazil denied and his relationship with De Zerbi broken down, the striker faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines ahead of the January transfer window.