The Cristian Romero rumours have started up again. It’s happening earlier than usual this year.
Speaking to Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports, the 26-year-old, consistently linked with Madrid’s big two, confirmed that he would “love to” play in Spain one day.
Presumably, that would have been music to Diego Simeone‘s ears given his fondness for no-nonsense enforcers.
Tottenham‘s vice-captain stressed his immediate focus is on trying to win the Europa League, which would end the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy, before dropping a classic transfer cliffhanger.
“After that, once the championship finishes, we’ll see,” he said.
The prospect of Romero leaving Spurs has loomed practically since he joined them (initially on loan) from Atalanta in 2021.
Romero’s acquisition was seen as a major coup. He had just been crowned Serie A’s best defender, was only 22, and had a ringing endorsement from Lionel Messi. Spurs had just finished 7th in the Premier League, back when that constituted a disaster.
Romero’s stock has risen further since, albeit largely due to his performances for Argentina in their glittering golden age, rather than his form in north London.
Romero’s hints at moving on, allied to Spurs’ lowly position of 16th in the Premier League table, indicate the club hasn’t evolved as he would have wanted to when he signed a five-year deal in 2022.
The pros
Romero’s attributes: Aggression, leadership and underrated passing range
There is no doubt that Romero is an exceptional centre-back at his best, a defensive hybrid between old and new schools.
He is strong in the air in both boxes and a leader in a team lacking them. His aggression and full-blooded commitment are outliers in a contact sport that has diluted the contact.
Romero’s expansive (and vastly underrated) passing range is integral to Spurs’ build-up play. They sorely missed his line-breaking, press-beating passes when he was out injured.
Ange Postecoglou has consistently praised Romero’s technical, physical and mental abilities during his time in charge, and from the outside, he appears to be a positive influence in the squad.
Losing him would be a blow to Spurs, particularly after a season as bad as this one, but perhaps not as seismic as his status as (arguably) one of the world’s top defenders would suggest.
The cons
Romero’s weaknesses: Mistakes, injuries and a leaky defence
Like many in the Spurs squad, he has not had a good season. Romero’s displays have been littered with individual errors and lapses in concentration, including in Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest when he was caught ball-watching for Chris Wood’s goal.
He has been more composed over the past couple of campaigns than the perception of him dictates, but a record of 32 yellow cards and four reds in 121 Spurs matches indicates that he plays on the edge and often strays past it.
Spurs’ defensive record hasn’t been great for most of Romero’s spell at the club, either. After recording the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League in his maiden year, they have since ranked 15th, 8th and 13th for goals conceded.
Romero is not entirely to blame for that – in the Postecoglou era the centre-backs especially have been ludicrously exposed – but as their marquee defender, he is not blameless either.
Romero’s injury record at Spurs
2021-22:
- Knee (one game)
- Covid quarantine (two games)
- Hamstring (17 games)
- Hip (three games)
2022-23:
- Adductor (three games)
- Hamstring (five games)
2023-24:
- Hamstring (three games)
2024-25:
- Ankle (two games)
- Toe (four games)
- Hamstring (21 games)
Typically of Spurs’ campaign, he has spent a significant chunk of it out injured, missing four months with a hamstring injury.
Unfortunately, injuries have been a theme of his career at the club. Since August 2021, Romero has missed 67 of Spurs’ 197 games (34 per cent) due to illness, injury or suspension.
Despite being a first-team regular, he has only surpassed 27 Premier League appearances in a season once: 33 in 2023-24. The most he can play in 2024-25 is 23.
Romero has seemed disaffected with things at Spurs.
After returning to action last month, he pointedly praised Argentina’s physios for their handling of his hamstring injury and not Tottenham’s.
That followed criticism of the board and their investment in December.
“Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results. Those are the things to imitate,” he said.
“The last few years, it’s always the same – first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it’s always the same people responsible.”
The verdict – keep or sell?
If Spurs sell Romero this summer, he would become the second big star to leave in the last two years, following Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich in 2023. So much for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium being a “game changer”.
Valuable as he is, the impact of his loss would be nowhere near on the same scale. Whereas Kane was equally brilliant for Spurs and England, there is a perception among some fans that Argentina generally see the best of Romero.
Your next read
Regardless of whether or not they win the Europa League, Spurs face another pivotal summer.
Selling Romero may be unpopular, but he is one of their most saleable assets.
Spurs are in a strong position to command a sizeable fee for him given he cost them £42.5m and has two years left on his contract.
Reinvesting the proceeds to buy a younger, more available replacement could help kickstart a much-needed rebuild.
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