Roberto De Zerbi delivered his final press conference before the Premier League season starts after his 10-man Tottenham side beat Chelsea 2-1 in Sydney in their pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Richarlison bagged a 92nd-minute winner for Tottenham against Chelsea in front of more than 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. The Brazilian was the first player to react after Jamie Donley’s shot came back off a post, prodding the ball into an empty net to avert the need for a penalty shootout. It was the first time that the two sides have met outside the UK and the match started in the spirit of a true London derby. De Zerbi’s side were on top in the early stages and took a deserved lead on 17 minutes when the new signing Sandro Tonali scored his first goal for Tottenham. Spurs were only ahead for four minutes, as Estêvão Willian got the better of Andy Robertson to head home at the back post after some good work from Jamie Gittens down the left.
Antonin Kinsky pulled off some excellent saves before Richarlison scored a 92nd minute winner. Jamie Donley hit a low shot that struck the base of the right-hand post and the Brazilian buried the rebound.
After the match, De Zerbi was asked whether Richarlison - who has entered the final year of his contract - would leave this summer. Speaking after the game, De Zerbi said Richarlison had not clarified if he was going to depart this summer. “I don’t know, I didn’t understand well, because sometimes he said to stay, sometimes he leaves, we have to speak. Anyway, there is not any problem, he’s a lovely guy. All of us love him, the teammates, the club, the staff, because he works hard every day.”
When pressed on whether he was admitting to us that Richarlison wants to leave Spurs, De Zerbi said: ‘I don't know, I didn't understand well, because sometimes he said to stay, sometimes he leaves. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem.
The situation comes in the context of Spurs' record-breaking £237m transfer window, which is set to continue with the pursuit of two more attackers. One is understood to be Manchester City's Savinho, while Liverpool's Cody Gakpo has also been linked.