Richarlison was seen in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt for the first time in nearly two months on Tuesday, lining up for the club's Under-21s in a Jersey Mike's Trophy match against Cheltenham Town.
The 29-year-old was left out of Roberto De Zerbi's Premier League squad for the current campaign and also missed out on Tottenham's Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool. His last appearance for the first team came in the opening-day defeat at Brentford on August 22.
With overage players permitted in EFL Trophy lineups, Richarlison turned out for the development squad under manager Wayne Burnett against League Two side Cheltenham, using the game to maintain his match fitness.
Richarlison's absence from the Premier League squad stems from Tottenham being able to register only 17 non-homegrown players, a restriction that remains in place until the next English transfer window.
De Zerbi told football.london that Richarlison had asked to leave the club this summer. The manager instead chose Xavi Simons for his squad ahead of the striker, even though Simons is facing further months out as he recovers from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in April.
Richarlison turned down approaches from his former club Everton and from Vasco da Gama, the team he supported as a boy, before both the English and Brazilian transfer windows closed. He was especially keen on a loan move to Vasco, but Tottenham had already reached their limit on international loans.
His representatives have explored legal routes to end his contract with Tottenham, which runs until next summer and includes a club option for a further 12-month extension.
Richarlison started on the left wing for the Under-21s on Tuesday, his first competitive action in several months.
