Tottenham's exiled forward Richarlison reacted to news that Roberto De Zerbi won't be picking him for the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool with a one word response on social media -- "Why?" accompanied by a tearful emoji.
While the Brazil forward has been left out of Spurs' 25-man Premier League squad, he is still eligible to feature in cup competitions.
The 29-year-old is at an impasse over his future at the club -- after declining a contract extension in the summer, he saw a prospective transfer to former club Everton break down on deadline day. Subsequent moves to Turkey and Brazil's Vasco de Gama failed to materialise too.
"Richarlison, you already know everything and nothing change for Carabao Cup or Premier League. The situation is the same," De Zerbi said in a news conference on Monday.
"I said last press conference. I know what happened in the last 45 days. It's not right if I explained. It's not my behaviour. The relationship, the problem is between the player and the club," he added.
"I stay within the club. It's coach and club together. At the start of this season I spoke to him many times to convince him to stay and he didn't want to. I can't go every day to pray for him to stay."
Richarlison posted a screenshot of De Zerbi's quote about his exclusion on his Instagram story accompanied with "Why?" and a crying emoji.
The forward was Spurs' top scorer last season with 11 goals, but the club have moved on with Sávio and Omar Marmoush arriving from Manchester City.
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Spurs remain winless in the Premier League after four matches, and face Liverpool at Anfield in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
