Tottenham Hotspur’s struggle to find the back of the net has reached a peculiar point, with forward Richarlison scoring for the under-21 side against Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy. The Brazilian, who joined Spurs from Everton for £60 million, netted a half-volley and converted a penalty in a shootout during a 7-6 loss after a 2-2 draw.
The appearance, his second of the season and first since late August, highlighted the stark contrast between his recent international career alongside stars like Neymar Jr and Vinicius Jr and his current status as an outsider at the club. Fans numbering in the low hundreds watched as the 29-year-old looked uncomfortable celebrating his goal against the League Two side.
Spurs have now conceded they are in a serious goal-scoring crisis. With only three goals in the Premier League, they are the division’s lowest scorers and sit second from bottom. This poor form is particularly glaring given that Richarlison was their top scorer last season with 12 goals, including 11 in league competition.
Manager Roberto de Zerbi has insisted that the decision to omit Richarlison from the 25-man Premier League squad was not his own, but rather a club-level move. The situation intensified during the summer transfer window when a return to former club Everton fell through, followed by a failed attempt to move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. De Zerbi revealed that Richarlison had expressed a desire to leave from the start of pre-season.
“He decided everything alone,” De Zerbi stated. “He spoke with me at the beginning of the pre-season and told me his idea and desire was to leave… It is the responsibility of the club.”
Richarlison was also ruled out of the Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool due to eligibility rules. His absence has left a significant void in the attack. Fellow striker Dominic Solanke scored his first goal of the season in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, but it marked the first Premier League goal by a Spurs forward since Richarlison scored against Chelsea in May.
Purpose-built stadium owners and supporters have grown increasingly frustrated, with banners demanding goals appearing inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the opening four goalless matches. The club invested heavily in the summer, spending £300 million on new recruits, yet the attack remains sterile.
Former England striker Alan Shearer criticized Solanke’s performances on Match of the Day, stating the 29-year-old is “nowhere near good enough,” noting he has scored just 13 league goals in two years since his £55 million move from Bournemouth. Despite this, De Zerbi defended Solanke’s contribution to the draw at Old Trafford.
As Richarlison waits for a potential return to the first-team setup, the EFL Trophy offers one of his few opportunities for competitive minutes before the January transfer window. The question remains whether a £60 million asset should be showcasing his skills in England’s lower leagues while the senior team fights to avoid a dramatic drop to the Championship.
If Richarlison won’t leave, why is he even allowed to play U21s? Shouldn’t he be training with the seniors to fix this crisis?
Wasn’t De Zerbi supposed to be the tactical genius? This looks less like football and more like a management disaster from day one.
Honestly, watching a £60m striker score in the EFL Trophy while the first team can’t find the net is absolutely heartbreaking.