Tottenham Hotspur have had a dismal start to the 2026/27 campaign.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Spurs splashed the cash this summer in an attempt to restore themselves as perennial European qualifiers once more. The likes of Jan Paul van Hecke, Matheus Fernandes, Savinho and Sandro Tonali all joined the club for big money.
However, despite spending over £300m, Spurs are still winless and have not scored a single goal in their opening three Premier League games. They were beaten 3-0 by Brentford, 2-0 by Newcastle United and were perhaps lucky to hold Nottingham Forest to a 0-0 draw.
Things aren't going well on the pitch, and things aren't going well off it, either.
Richarlison Takes Action Against Tottenham
Richarlison has been deemed surplus to requirements by Spurs after their summer spending spree. The Brazilian, who joined the club in 2022, was heavily linked with a return to Everton on deadline day, but the move did not materialise.
Despite the failed move, Tottenham decided against including him in their 25-man squad for the Premier League and have made him train with their U21 squad.
Richarlison has now taken action amid interest from Brazilian club, Vasco de Gama. Brazilian outlet Ge.Globo have reported that the 29-year-old has asked Spurs to be transferred to Vasco.
While Spurs are happy to let him leave, they are asking for more than £20 million to sell the player permanently, an amount that Vasco cannot afford to invest at this time.
The 29-year-old is said to be 'furious' and is now taking legal action to push through a move.
Sources have now told GiveMeSport that Richarlison believes he has a case to tear up the final year of his deal after being left out of Spurs' Premier League squad. He has approached FIFA in an attempt to resolve the situation.
Ge.Globo add that the situation is similar to that of Renan Lodi, who claimed in court that he was prevented from practicing his profession after not being registered by Al Hilal in the Saudi league. Lodi obtained a unilateral termination of his contract and signed with Atlético-MG shortly after.
Richarlison Sent Cryptic Post About Future
At the end of August, Richarlison posted a bombshell statement on social media about his future. He wrote:
"After everything I've been through in the last few years, I decided that NEVER AGAIN would anyone decide my future for me.
"I went through a lot of bad things during that time, and almost all of them happened because of decisions made by other people.
"Pressure, threats, retaliation—none of that scares me. I've been through worse things... believe me! I've always made it clear, at every opportunity, that any move of mine to another place would also have to be good for the club. If it wasn't, I would never accept it... just like I didn't accept it when everything here was falling apart and they needed me.
"I stayed and gave my life. So, I hope they treat my situation with the same respect that I've always had for the Spurs and for all the people who worked with me during this period. Just don't try to decide for me."