For a couple of hours on transfer deadline day, it seemed only a matter of time before Richarlison left Tottenham.
He was closing in on an idyllic return to Everton, more than four years after swapping Merseyside for North London.
But after expressing his desire to depart, a proposed move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium fell through, leaving both the player and club with few alternatives at such a late stage of the summer transfer window.
"He decided everything alone," De Zerbi said in September. "He spoke with me at the beginning of the pre-season and told me his idea and desire was to leave.
"At the end we go to bring another striker [in] and, like I said at the beginning of the pre-season, I want to keep the players, just the players that want to stay and be proud and with the right passion to stay here.
"Then for everything and other problems, it is not my business and not my job. It is the responsibility of the club.
"I can't say nothing because I didn't decide anything. The message of Richarlison from the beginning of the season has been very clear. I accepted that and for me [there is] nothing [to say]."
Later that month, a proposed move to Brazilian side Vasco da Gama also fell through after Richarlison failed to agree personal terms.
He was also ruled out of Spurs' Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool last month, with only players registered in their club's respective league squad eligible to feature in the competition.
The ex-Watford forward may now have to get used to the surroundings of English football's lower leagues, with the EFL Trophy's group stage offering him a rare opportunity to gain competitive minutes before January.
