Tottenham were apparently ready to let Richarlison join Vasco da Gama, and the Brazilian club even offered him an escape route in January. He still turned it down.
That’s according to new information from journalist Bruno Braz at UOL, who has gone through what happened behind the scenes before Friday’s deadline. It makes Richarlison’s decision look even more interesting.
We already knew he didn’t want to commit his long-term future to Vasco. The idea was to spend the remainder of 2026 there and then look abroad again.
It turns out Vasco were willing to let him do exactly that.
Tottenham were happy with the deal
A loan had been Richarlison’s original preference, but Tottenham had already reached their limit for international loans. That left a permanent transfer or the player’s attempted contract termination.
Vasco therefore put together a financial structure for a purchase. UOL say payments were spread out so the deal wouldn’t put too much pressure on the Brazilian club’s cash flow.
Crucially, that structure “pleased Tottenham”. So by the end, Spurs don’t appear to have been the obstacle.
Vasco then tried to solve Richarlison’s problem with the deal. They offered him a clause allowing him to leave in January. That would give the striker the chance to return abroad, while also protecting Vasco financially.
If an overseas offer arrived, they wouldn’t necessarily have to pay Tottenham the full amount originally agreed. It was essentially an attempt to give everyone something they wanted.
Tottenham got a permanent deal. Vasco got Richarlison. And Richarlison got his route back out only a few months later. He still wouldn’t sign.
€1.9m (£1.6m) for a few months
UOL say Richarlison was due to receive R$12m, around €1.9m (£1.6m), through to December. Even with that money and the January clause, his camp didn’t change position.
Richarlison was only prepared to leave Tottenham if he could terminate his contract. That fits with what journalist Thiago Asmar has been saying throughout the saga.
Speaking again over the weekend, Asmar explained that the forward was keen on Vasco when a loan still looked possible.
“He always told me he wanted to go to Vasco,” he said. “He told me: ‘It’s my grandfather’s dream. I want to play there.'”
Richarlison had even sent him a picture of a Vasco flag at his grandfather’s grave.
The problem came when Tottenham couldn’t sanction another loan. Asmar says Richarlison then made his position very clear: “I won’t accept a sale. I want to play for Vasco only until December.”
That explains why all Vasco’s attempts to restructure a permanent transfer ultimately got nowhere. But Asmar also says the story isn’t necessarily finished from Richarlison’s side.
“He still wants a contract termination. And if he gets it, he’ll want to play for Vasco until December.”
This wasn’t about keeping January open
Throughout last week, Richarlison’s reluctance to sign a long contract could easily be explained by his desire to keep his options open for January.
Vasco apparently solved that problem. They were prepared to put the January exit into the contract itself. Tottenham were happy with the financial structure too.
Yet Richarlison still preferred to remain at Spurs, despite being left out of their Premier League squad, and continue fighting for a termination.
So this wasn’t just about making sure he could leave Brazil in January. He wanted to get out of Tottenham without being tied to the Vasco purchase in the first place.
That could matter in January of course. For now, though, the gamble has left him in an awkward position.
Vasco’s window has closed, the permanent transfer is dead and Tottenham still hold his contract. Looking back at how far the Brazilian club were prepared to go to accommodate him, it’s clear why they finally decided enough was enough.
