10 G/A Tottenham forward, sidelined due to injury emerges as target for Atletico Madrid

Tottenham forward has been linked with a surprise move to La Liga giants.

Very few would have predicted Tottenham Hotspur’s campaign to spiral out in such a manner after last term’s Europa League success.

With European qualification for next campaign looking unlikely, there are question marks over the futures of several players at White Hart Lane. First-choice centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have already been attracting interest from top European clubs. Another key Spurs player linked with an exit is Richarlison.

Transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano revealed in December 2025 that MLS club Orlando City were keen on Richarlison. They held a face-to-face meeting with the Tottenham forward and his agents regarding their wish to sign him. However, a winter move did not happen as the 28-year-old was reluctant to leave Spurs midway through the campaign ahead of the World Cup year.

Richarlison linked with a move to La Liga giants

Richarlison started the season as the first-choice striker option for Thomas Frank. Thanks partly to Dominic Solanke’s ankle surgery, the Brazilian managed to gain much-needed momentum and consistency in his performance levels. He bagged seven goals and three assists in 21 league appearances before suffering a hamstring injury in January.

Come summer, the Brazilian international will have just one year left on his contract in N17. The versatile forward has seen his future at the club questioned in recent transfer windows, and it now seems that an exit is on the cards.

According to a report from Spanish news outlet Fichajes, Atletico Madrid are eyeing a move to sign Richarlison. Manager Diego Simeone has already given his approval to a move for the Tottenham striker, while Spurs are also open to negotiating a deal.

A move for Richarlison makes sense from Atletico Madrid’s perspective. Los Rojiblancos could lose star striker Julian Alvarez to Arsenal in the summer, and his departure would leave the club with a big void to fill ahead of the 2026/27 season. Richarlison may not represent an adequate replacement for Alvarez, but getting him on reduced price would help Atletico Madrid to spend on another striker.

Tottenham chiefs would hope that Richarlison shines for Brazil at the World Cup and helps them fetch a decent fee in the summer. Their readiness to negotiate a deal with Atletico shows the South American’s true value within the club. Richarlison’s return to fitness in late February will help the team, but he doesn’t appear to have a long-term future at Tottenham.