Richarlison starts and scores for Tottenham Under-21s in EFL Trophy
Richarlison made a surprise appearance for Tottenham's Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, starting and scoring, according to multiple reports.
Richarlison returned to action for Tottenham Hotspur's Under-21 team in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, starting the match and finding the net, as reported by BBC Sport and Globo.
The Brazilian striker has been left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad by manager Roberto De Zerbi, according to TuttoMercatoWeb. His absence followed a lengthy transfer saga during the summer, with the player ultimately remaining at the club.
Why the Under-21s?
Richarlison's appearance with the youth side comes while the senior team struggles for goals, as noted by Placar. The Brazilian is in a state of limbo after failing to secure a move away during the recent transfer window, according to the Evening Standard.
TuttoMercatoWeb reports that De Zerbi excluded Richarlison from the first-team squad and the Premier League list after the summer's protracted back-and-forth over his future.
A return to action
The EFL Trophy appearance marks Richarlison's first competitive minutes for Tottenham at any level since being frozen out. BBC Sport confirmed both his inclusion in the starting lineup and his goal during the match.
Globo also highlighted that Richarlison was a starter and scored for the Under-21 side, underlining his continued match fitness despite his exclusion from the senior setup.
What's next?
Richarlison's situation remains unresolved, with no indication from the reports of a return to the first team. The striker will likely continue training with the Under-21s unless a resolution is found with De Zerbi's squad plans.
