Richarlison returns to Tottenham action with shock Under-21s appearance amid transfer limbo

But he has now returned to action for the first time since the opening day of the Premier League campaign, starting for Tottenham’s U21s as they visit Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy.

The experienced Brazilian was on target in the 2-2 draw, levelling the affair at 1-1 shortly after half-time before Miracle Adewole put Spurs ahead.

Tottenham’s youngsters celebrated Richarlison’s goal with his signature pigeon celebration

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Cheltenham’s George Miller then equalised in the 96th minute to force a penalty shootout and Richarlison scored again from the spot, but his effort was not enough to seal victory and Spurs lost 6-7.

While the EFL Trophy is designed to pit Premier League academy sides against EFL opposition, its rules permit U21 squads to employ at most two players who are either over 21 years old or have made 40 first-team appearances.

The 29-year-old Richarlison was the only such player in the Tottenham squad for Tuesday evening’s trip to Gloucestershire. He is also eligible to appear in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, but has not done so since the transfer window closed. He was named to the bench for Spurs’ second-round defeat of Charlton, though that came before Deadline Day.

Richarlison made no mistake from the spot as Tottenham U21s lost to Cheltenham on penalties

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Richarlison’s odd summer saga began when it was reported he had been left out of De Zerbi’s plans for the season, leaving him to find himself a new home before Deadline Day.

He subsequently saw moves to both Trabzonspor and Vasco Da Gama fall through at the last, though, after failing to agree terms. He had also been linked with a return to Everton, whom he left to join Tottenham in 2022.

Speaking in pre-season, De Zerbi said of Richarlison’s future: "I don't know because I like him as a player and as a guy.

“He's unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do.

“Sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He's a lovely guy."

Later that same month, he claimed Richarlison had asked to leave the club on several occasions, saying: “I love these players, they are great guys, I have very good relationships, but if they want to leave, they have to bring the solution, the economic solution, to the club, and they can go, and we find other players.”