Fight or flight? Huge Call for Tottenham’s ‘Pigeon’ Richarlison

The 2025/26 campaign was always going to be a big one for Richarlison. With questions being asked of his standing at Tottenham, with another new manager taking the helm, a World Cup carrot was also dangled in front of the Brazilian forward.

A change in the dugout has also been made there, with Carlo Ancelotti taking the reins of South American heavyweights. Favour has been retained under the Italian tactician, but how long that remains the case is yet to be determined.

Richarlison knows that he needs to be playing regularly at club level in order to nail down an international role, with there always somebody ready to take your place. Spurs have, for various reasons, been short on firepower at times this season.

Ultimate Goal

Positive progress has still been made under Thomas Frank, with Spurs vs Man United odds pricing them as 13/8 favourites to take three points off rivals that they last frustrated in the Europa League final.

Premier League bet markets are yet to be entirely convinced by Tottenham’s top four credentials, as they come in at 15/2, but qualification for more Champions League competition remains the ultimate goal for all concerned.

If somebody could become a regular source of goals, then completing said quest will become considerably easier. Nobody at present has been able to put down a serious marker there.

With Richarlison among those struggling to deliver on a consistent basis, with a role as an impact substitute needing to be embraced, inevitable questions are being asked of how much longer he will be sticking around.

Transfer whispers surfaced over the summer and while they are not yet at shouting levels, the pitch of said gossip has definitely increased. There has been talk of interest from domestic rivals and ambitious outfits back in the Brazilian’s homeland.

Ancelotti, who worked with Richarlison at Everton for two years between 2019 and 2021, will be among those waiting to see what the January window has in store. He is prepared to give a familiar face plenty of leeway.

Amid questions of why Richarlison continues to be selected by his country when overlooked so frequently for starts at club level, Ancelotti has said: “He’s a centre-forward, a striker with a different profile. He doesn’t have the same style. Richarlison isn’t playing much right now, but as a number nine he has scored many goals for the Brazilian national team.”

Added Competition

That is not entirely true, with Richarlison having failed to find the target for the Selecao since 2022. He netted on 10 occasions in the last World Cup year, with it difficult to argue against him filling a central striking berth.

His famous celebration was broken out on the grandest of stages, but it has not been seen too much since, with only five efforts being registered for Spurs last season through 24 appearances in all competitions.

Richarlison now faces added competition for places in north London, under a coach that appears to be less than convinced by what he has to offer, and the time has come for Tottenham’s ‘Pigeon’ to decide whether he wants to stay and fight for his place or take flight.