Mudryk ready for minutes as De Zerbi confirms Richarlison out of Tottenham squad before Forest

Mudryk cleared for a cameo as Richarlison stays off the list

Tottenham head to Nottingham Forest this weekend with a hard squad fact, not a rumour: Roberto De Zerbi says Mykhailo Mudryk is ready to play part of the game, while Richarlison has been left out of Tottenham’s 25-man Premier League squad.

That combination changes how the Forest fixture looks. One new winger can be used off the bench. The Brazil forward who started the opening-day defeat to Brentford cannot be selected in the Premier League until the mid-season registration window.

What De Zerbi said

Speaking on Friday ahead of the trip to Nottingham Forest, De Zerbi confirmed Mudryk can be used for a portion of the match. The Athletic reported the Ukrainian had not featured in a competitive matchday squad since November 2024 and had only 12 friendly minutes this pre-season after training individually during his ban.

On Richarlison, Sky Sports News carried De Zerbi explaining the omission from the 25. He said the forward decided everything alone after telling him at the start of pre-season that he wanted to leave. "It was not my decision. It is the normal decision," De Zerbi added. "I want to keep only the players who want to stay with pride and the right passion."

BBC Sport and The Athletic established the club submitted the first-half Premier League list without Richarlison after a deadline-day return to Everton collapsed. Injured attacking options Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert were kept on the list. Clubs may amend the 25 after the winter window.

Why it matters

For the Forest game, Tottenham's registered attack now runs through the players De Zerbi kept, including new arrival Omar Marmoush, rather than a striker who asked to leave.

Windows in Turkey and Saudi Arabia remained open after the English deadline, which is why the Richarlison file is still live even though he cannot play Premier League minutes from this list. That does not restore him for Forest.

Mudryk’s availability is the one to watch: if he is named among the substitutes, his first competitive minutes in almost two years will be the in-game story. De Zerbi did not promise a start. He promised part of the game.