Richarlison’s proposed move to Vasco da Gama collapsed on Friday (PA Wire) Tottenham forward Richarlison believes he will still join Vasco da Gama despite his move to the Brazilian club collapsing on Friday night. The 29-year-old had made it clear to Roberto De Zerbi in the summer that he wanted to leave Spurs but transfers to Everton, Turkish side Trabzonspor and the Saudi Pro League have failed to materialise. Richarlison was then set to join his boyhood club Vasco da Gama on the final day of the Brazilian transfer window on Friday, however, an agreement could not be reached and the player now faces limited playing time as he has been left out of Spurs’ Premier League squad list. Richarlison has also explored the possibility of terminating his contract with Spurs, which would allow him to move to Vasco da Gama as a free agent. However, Spurs are not considering that as a realistic option. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. Speaking in a video on Instagram, Richarlison claimed that the reason behind his failure to join Vasco da Gama is because Spurs have already used all six of their permitted international loans. ‘Hey there, Vasco fans. This week has been pretty hectic. I decided to take some time to thank the Vasco fans, Pedrinho, Felipe,’ Richarlison said. Richarlison has been left out of Spurs’ Premier League squad (Getty) ‘We were very close to me signing with Vasco. My team, the team of my whole family. It was a close call. ‘I had made it very clear to Pedrinho and Felipe from the beginning of the conversation that I wanted to play for Vasco until December. When other clubs and other offers came up, I made it clear that they were my priority. ‘This time, it was a close call. Unfortunately, Tottenham reached the loan limit, and that’s why the deal didn’t go through. ‘But that’s it. I wanted to thank you, the Vasco fans, who sent many kind messages. Asking what time and day I would be at the airport so they could come and have a party and pick me up. But let’s leave that for another time. I believe I’ll be at Sao Januario, in Barreira, soon. ‘You know how much I care about you all, and one day I will realise this dream, which is mine, my grandfather’s, and my family’s. I’m speaking from the heart because I really want to be at Vasco. That’s it. Thank you all very much. Soon we will be wearing the Vasco shirt. There’s even one over there, there are many over there.’ Speaking on Friday, De Zerbi indicated that Richarlison’s actions behind the scenes are the reason why he can no longer play a Premier League game for Spurs. ‘If I had decided myself to leave him outside of the squad, I would have regrets. But the decision has not even been taken by the club. It has been a consequence of what I told you already, that he has decided by his own,’ De Zerbi said. ‘I’m sorry because I have one player less on the list. Richarlison is a good guy, a very good guy. I spoke with him a lot of times and I spent time to convince him to stay. But if you ask me, I know the truth. I know what happened in the last month, the last 45 days. And it’s clear, but I’m not frustrated. ‘I know what the club has done in the last 45 days with him and what was the behaviour of Richarlison. I can’t explain because it’s not right, but I’m sorry because it could be different. Even the end of the story, but a different way, I think, it could have been better. ‘Or it was much better for Richarlison to be on the list, Richarlison happy to stay, maybe to extend his contract, because he is still an important player, he was important last season, we can’t forget. But we can’t forget also the last 45 days.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
It’s the same old story for Olympique de Marseille, who have now lost three matches in a row in the French championship. Struggling in every area of the pitch and lacking ideas, the Marseille side have won just one of their last four matches.
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