Retaining this first XI star should be a top priority for Tottenham Hotspur this summer – Opinion

There is a lot of uncertainty going around about Cristian Romero and his future at Tottenham Hotspur, with varying reports indicating different things given his links with a move to Atletico Madrid. But now stories have also emerged indicating that Daniel Levy could lead the negotiations to tie the Argentine up to a new contract at Hotspur Way as he looks to keep hold of the current vice-captain amid the Lilywhites’ qualification to the Champions League for the upcoming campaign.

While many fans have been critical of him given how he is often displaying intensity complemented by discipline problems and his emotional way of playing, the reality is the former Atalanta centre-back is the heartbeat of the current defensive roster at N17, and with Thomas Frank set to take charge of the reins at Spurs, he would become more so indispensable.

The Dane tactician is all set to take over the project at Tottenham from Ange Postecoglou, given how the Australian head coach was relieved of his duties despite winning the Europa League last year. As Andy and the club prepare for a new era under Thomas Frank, tying Cristian Romero down to a new long-term contract is the smartest and, in a way, most stabilising move that Tottenham could make.

Romero can go on to become an undisputed leader in the backline under Thomas Frank. Let’s have a deeper look into the hows around it…

Romero and his tactical fit under Frank

If we are taking Brentford as the backdrop of how Frank likes to operate, then his sides at the Gtech Community Stadium have always been defined by compact yet structured defensive units which have the capacity to adapt between low blocks and aggressive mid-presses whilst also depicting a sense of dominance when it comes to set pieces, and when you’re playing in these, you need players at the heart of defence that are capable of winning the 1v1s in wide areas whilst dominating the field coming your way. But it doesn’t just end there; you need to be capable of carrying the ball out confidently and bring a sense of vocal leadership to the side. And when you think about it, Cristian Romero brings all of these and more to the side.

And while fearing under Ange Postecoglou and in the system that the Australian deployed at N17 had Romero playing on the edge every single game, Frank is more measured when it comes to his structure, which can end up allowing the Argentine to channel his aggression more effectively. Instead of leading those chaotic high lines with little cover when bypassed, Romero will be playing in a mid-block with zonal pressing or in a back three system where his wide centre-back positioning will allow him to engage in duels more securely under the Danish centre back, and all this while knowing that he has cover behind him. And this conservative type of setup is where you’d expect Romero to ideally thrive and move because his defensive reads and physical ability end up being more of an asset rather than a liability.

And then comes the leadership ability of Romero

While the Argentine picks up unnecessary cards every now and then and, at times, overcommits, he has gone on to grow into a natural leader in that dressing room at Hotspur Way. And that is visible every day, like when he starts at the heart of defence.

With Heung-Min Son entering the twilight of his career and possibly leaving the North Londoners this summer, you need emotional anchors on the pitch, and Romero brings that to the side.

Romero’s extension ends up sending a clear message

The first message will be of ambition and stability to the players, which should be critical, especially given the managerial change. Then to the market or pool of players in the market, it says that the club is ready to retain key players and are not ready to lose out on talents. And most importantly to the supporters at N17, this rebuild is set to continue under Thomas Frank.

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TTLB opinion

Cristian Romero is not perfect, but he is indispensable in the current roster. Especially for a manager like Thomas Frank, who loves structure, discipline, and tactical versatility, to now have Romero secured over the long term is another building block. The Argentine brings everything Frank needs to build a defence, and a new contract to him isn’t just a reward; it is a strategy to protect your most irreplaceable defender from the market.