Tottenham have rejected two approaches from Shabab Al Ahli for Richarlison, with his messy situation now looking likely to drag on until January.
That’s the latest from ESPN Brazil journalist Bruno Andrade, who has been following the Brazilian’s attempts to leave Spurs closely.
Shabab Al Ahli still have time to sign players. The transfer window in the United Arab Emirates doesn’t close until September 28. They’ve tried twice for Richarlison, but Tottenham said no both times.
The latest approach didn’t even reach the player, although Andrade says Richarlison wasn’t particularly keen on the move anyway. So, barring another late twist, the 29-year-old is staying exactly where he is.
Tottenham want to wait until January
Andrade says Tottenham’s current plan is to keep Richarlison until December and then look for a better solution in January.
“The natural route continues to be that he stays at Tottenham until December and January, on the sidelines, training with the group but not being used,” Andrade said live at ESPN.
The request for a contract termination hasn’t disappeared either. Andrade says the formal notification from Richarlison’s side remains with Tottenham. His sources, however, don’t give the player much hope.
“The people I speak to continue saying it’s very unlikely that this request for termination will go forward, because legally Richarlison isn’t that well supported. He has few arguments,” Andrade explained.
“Right now, Tottenham have more arguments to keep him than Richarlison has arguments to leave.”
Turkey or Saudi Arabia in January
January is now shaping up as the real escape route. With six months remaining on his current deal, Richarlison would be able to negotiate a pre-contract with another club.
A new side could then try to reach an agreement with Tottenham to get him immediately, instead of waiting until the summer.
Andrade says Turkey and Saudi Arabia currently look like the most plausible destinations. Trabzonspor are specifically mentioned as a club Richarlison could revisit after their failed summer attempt.
Another Turkish side could come into the picture, while Saudi Arabia remains an option. Andrade stresses plenty can change before then. A more attractive European opportunity could easily appear over the next few months.
‘Catastrophic’ handling of business
He also gives a blunt assessment of how Richarlison and those around him have handled the saga so far.
“He’s made a lot of mistakes up to now, too many mistakes,” Andrade said. “The advice, the legal side, the business side. Richarlison in recent months has been, well, a catastrophe. A catastrophe.”
He believes the failed Vasco da Gama move was “more Richarlison’s fault than Tottenham’s or Vasco’s”.
Yet Andrade thinks waiting until January now makes sense – and not only for the club, but also for the player.
“Intelligently, he has to wait until January, sign a pre-contract with whoever he wants, and the negotiation is directly with him.”
“From January, he’ll have his contract in his own hands. Any signing-on fee goes to him, not the club. So for all the mistakes he’s made, the intelligent thing now is to wait until January, sign a pre-contract with whoever he wants, and negotiate directly with them.”
“This is the time for him to choose. Richarlison can look at any offer, choose between the money or the sporting project, Europe or the Middle East.”
That’s where this looks like it’s heading. Then January arrives, and the whole thing starts again.
