De Zerbi confirms three Tottenham players asked to leave after Newcastle defeat as Richarlison omission explained

Three players seek exits as Spurs face late-window turbulence

Tottenham’s already difficult start to the Premier League season has been complicated by a startling admission from Roberto De Zerbi. After the 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle, the Spurs head coach said that Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr had all asked to leave the club. That account has been independently reported by The Guardian, L’Équipe, Globo, Goal, Yahoo Sports and other outlets citing the same post-match news conference, giving the claim a strong cross-check across multiple publishers. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

The timing matters. Tottenham are in the final stretch of the transfer window, which increases the pressure on both the squad and the club’s recruitment staff. De Zerbi’s remarks suggest the issue is not merely one player looking elsewhere, but a cluster of senior squad members unsettled enough to push for a move. That makes the situation more than a routine transfer rumor: it is a squad-management problem arriving in public view just as the season is getting underway. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

Richarlison’s omission now appears linked to his own request

The most immediate football question after the Newcastle game was why Richarlison was not involved. Reports from the press conference indicate De Zerbi directly linked the Brazilian forward’s absence to his desire to depart, saying in effect that the player had made clear he wanted to leave. That explanation was echoed across independent reports, including The Guardian and L’Équipe, while Portuguese-language coverage from Globo and UOL also said De Zerbi had identified Richarlison as one of the players seeking an exit. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

This is notable because Richarlison had featured recently and remains one of the more recognisable names in Tottenham’s attack. If he is now unavailable for selection because of a transfer request, Spurs are not just dealing with a tactical hole; they are dealing with an availability issue born out of contract and squad harmony concerns. In practical terms, that can alter how the manager structures his frontline and how the club approaches negotiations with interested sides. That is an inference from the reported comments and team selection, not a separately confirmed club statement. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

De Zerbi says exits must suit the club economically

De Zerbi’s broader message was that Tottenham will not simply let players walk away without a workable solution. In the reports, he said that if the players want to leave, they need to bring an “economic solution” to the club, after which Tottenham can look for replacements. That line has been carried by several outlets and points to the usual late-window reality: even when a player wants out, the club still has to agree a fee, a replacement plan or both. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

The manager also framed the issue in terms of mentality and collective identity. After consecutive defeats, he said the group needs time to find the right balance, but he clearly prefers players who are fully committed to the project. That stance is common among coaches trying to stabilize a dressing room, yet the public nature of the remarks makes the challenge more immediate. A manager can absorb one unsettled player; it is harder when several first-team names are reported to be weighing an exit at the same time. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

What this means for Tottenham in the short term

From a football perspective, Tottenham now have a delicate few days ahead. They must decide whether to fight to keep the three players, negotiate sales, or move quickly for replacements. Because the reports name Richarlison, Danso and Sarr together, the issue could affect several positions at once, forcing Spurs to think about squad depth rather than a single transaction. That is especially relevant so early in the season, when injuries, suspensions and fixture congestion can quickly expose thin depth charts. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

There is also a reputational dimension. Public confirmation that several players want out can unsettle supporters and invite scrutiny of the club’s planning. Tottenham have already opened the campaign with back-to-back defeats, and the Newcastle loss has now been followed by a transfer-related storyline that will dominate attention until the window closes. Even if some or all of the players remain, the club must now manage a situation in which commitment, selection and bargaining power have all become part of the same conversation. That conclusion is based on the reported comments and match context. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

For readers in Kenya and across the global football audience, the key takeaway is straightforward: this is not just a rumor picked up from social media, but a claim repeated by multiple reputable publishers from De Zerbi’s post-match remarks. The substance is that three Tottenham players have reportedly asked to leave, Richarlison was omitted from the Newcastle squad for that reason, and the club now faces a late-window decision over whether to cash in, persuade them to stay, or scramble for alternatives. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

Source note

This article is based on independently corroborated reporting from The Guardian, L’Équipe, Globo, Goal, Yahoo Sports and Tottenham’s own official match preview page for the Newcastle fixture. The Sun lead was used only as the trigger for research, not as the sole factual basis. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/29/biggest-problem-for-spurs-is-finding-right-mentality-says-roberto-de-zerbi?utm_source=openai))

Sources

The Guardian; L’Équipe; Globo; Goal; Yahoo Sports; Tottenham Hotspur official site; UOL.

Sources:

• The Guardian
• L’Équipe
• Globo
• Goal
• Yahoo Sports
• Tottenham Hotspur
• UOL