Richarlison scores for Spurs U21s while first team struggle for goals
Richarlison scored for Tottenham's under-21s against Cheltenham Town while the Tottenham first team he cannot play for sit second-bottom of the Premier League.
The EFL Trophy tie finished 2-2. Spurs then lost 7-6 in a penalty shootout, which is used to decide drawn games in the group stage of this competition, with Richarlison scoring his kick, according to BBC Sport.
The EFL Trophy is mainly for clubs in the lower leagues. Premier League teams are invited to enter academy sides, so senior players can occasionally turn out alongside teenagers to keep fit.
Richarlison started the game for the young Spurs side. His appearance came six weeks after his transfer request, according to The Sun.
The Brazil forward, who played at the 2022 World Cup, was left out of Tottenham's 25-man Premier League squad in September. Clubs must name a limited squad after the summer window shuts. Anyone left off the list cannot play league football.
Tottenham confirmed its squad for the 2026/27 season on 3 September, after the window closed. Richarlison was the big name missing.
Manager Roberto de Zerbi said the decision to omit him was not his. Richarlison had told De Zerbi before the season that he wanted to leave.
He was told before the deadline he would not be included so he could find a new club, according to The Athletic. That search did not bring a move.
A deadline-day return to Everton, the club Spurs bought him from for £60m, fell through. A proposed switch to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also collapsed after he failed to agree personal terms.
Being unregistered has shut other doors too. Richarlison was ruled out of Tottenham's Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool because only league-registered players were eligible.
It is a strange position for a player who carried much of the attack last season. He finished as Tottenham's leading Premier League scorer with 11 goals in 32 appearances. Since joining from Everton he has 27 top-flight goals in 103 games.
He was heavily used last term, featuring in 43 of the club's 52 matches in all competitions. Few Spurs attackers have played more football in the past year.
Tottenham feel his absence. They have scored three goals this season, the lowest total in the Premier League. Dominic Solanke, a £55m signing from Bournemouth two years ago, is still in the squad and available to De Zerbi.
What makes this stand out is the contrast. Spurs cannot score, and their top scorer from last season is scoring for the under-21s instead. For casual fans picking this up, it is a simple football irony with a sharp edge.
For now, academy football is his only football. Spurs must live with the goals they have until the squad can be changed again.
