Richarlison has hit out at Tottenham as he stressed his desire to return to Everton in a dramatic pre-deadline day outburst.
Everton and Spurs have been locked in talks over a potential deal for Richarlison, with a deal agreed at £25m plus add-ons.
Richarlison’s possible return to Everton, for whom he scored 53 goals in 152 games between 2018 and 2022, was seen as a separate deal to Spurs’ move for Iliman Ndiaye.
Spurs and Everton had struck an agreement on a £60m transfer for Ndiaye, but Manchester City have reportedly hijacked that deal on Monday, and will pay the Toffees up to £65m for the Senegal international.
However, Richarlison’s proposed move has now hit a roadblock. Stats Perform understands this is over legacy payments the forward feels he is owed by Spurs.
And in an emotional string of social media posts, Richarlison said: “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.”
— Richarlison Andrade (@richarlison97) August 24, 2024
Richarlison then added he wished to go back to 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.”
A transfer now appears in doubt, with Everton reportedly closing in on agreement to sign Folarin Balogun from Monaco.
Balogun, who impressed for the United States at the World Cup, scored 19 goals for Monaco last season, slightly underperforming his 20.3 expected goals.
