Richarlison has criticised Tottenham and made clear he wants to return to Everton, but his proposed £25m move has stalled over legacy payments he believes he is owed by Spurs.
Everton and Spurs had reached an agreement for the Brazil forward, with the deal understood to be worth £25m plus add-ons. However, the transfer is now in doubt after negotiations became complicated by the outstanding payments.
Richarlison, 29, scored 53 goals in 152 appearances for Everton between 2018 and 2022 before moving to Tottenham. In an emotional series of social media posts, he said he would no longer allow other people to determine his future.
“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.”
The forward then stated that he wanted to return to Everton, describing the club as his “beloved club”.
“If they reach an agreement between Spurs and Everton, I’m going back to my beloved club,” he wrote.
“My intention was indeed to return to the place where I was very happy, yes, but the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted, and it will no longer be like that.
“Despite all this turmoil, I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club’s disposal.”
Richarlison’s possible return was regarded as a separate transaction from Everton’s proposed sale of Iliman Ndiaye to Spurs.
Tottenham and Everton had agreed a £60m deal for Ndiaye, but Manchester City reportedly intervened on Monday. The Premier League champions are expected to pay Everton up to £65m for the Senegal international.
The uncertainty over Richarlison’s future comes as Everton are reportedly close to signing Folarin Balogun from Monaco. That development could further reduce the likelihood of the former Everton striker returning to Goodison Park.
Balogun, who impressed for the United States at the World Cup, scored 19 goals for Monaco last season. His total was slightly below his expected-goals figure of 20.3.
