Tottenham need to retain Cristian Romero for the foreseeable future.
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has played a crucial role in helping the Lilywhites go from strength to strength under Thomas Frank this season. The Argentina international has formed a solid partnership with Micky van de Ven at the back, contributing to nine clean sheets in all competitions for the North London club. His consistent performances have also helped Spurs maintain a perfect home record in the Champions League this season.
The 27-year-old was heavily linked with a move away from N17 during the summer, with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone reportedly keen on luring him to Spain for the current campaign. However, the move failed to materialise for various reasons, with Romero instead signing a contract extension until 2029. This decision was widely viewed as one of the North Londoners’ most important pieces of business during the summer window.
Thomas Frank also entrusted the influential defender with leadership responsibilities, handing him the club captaincy following Heung Min Son’s departure. Romero has led by example during the first half of the season, setting standards both on and off the pitch. His passion and ability to perform consistently in high pressure situations have also seen him develop into a cult hero at N17.
Tottenham might be tempted with a big money offer for Cristian Romero
Much to the surprise of many, Tottenham were able to secure Cristian Romero’s long term future in the summer by offering him an improved financial package. The Lilywhites significantly increased his salary, making him one of the highest paid players in the squad this season. This proved to be a key factor in Spurs retaining the prolific defender amid strong interest from Atletico Madrid.
Former Spurs scout Bryan King, however, has not ruled out a potential exit for Romero in the future if a substantial offer arrives. Speaking to Tottenham News, King said,
“He’s only just signed a new contract, Romero. He signed an improved deal in the summer, and it’s made a big difference to his wage packet. He’s one of the highest-paid players at Tottenham, so it won’t be cheap to get him out. If Atletico think he’s going to walk out, they’ll have to think again.”
The ex-Spurs scout added:
“He’d cost £60million-70m. The fact that he’s Argentinian and Diego Simeone’s Argentinian will have nothing to do with it. If Spurs don’t want to sell, then he won’t go unless a crazy offer comes in, that is what it will take.”
As Bryan King rightly points out, pricing Cristian Romero away from Tottenham would be extremely difficult for Atletico Madrid, given that the Argentine defender is among the club’s highest earners and has only recently signed a new contract. That said, King believes it would take an offer in excess of £60m for the Lilywhites to even consider parting ways with their star centre back.
Cristian Romero’s future lies away from Tottenham?
Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez has also recently expressed his desire to play alongside Cristian Romero at club level, hinting at a possible future move for the defender. This has understandably made Spurs supporters anxious, as they are keen to see Romero remain in a Lilywhite shirt for years to come. Tottenham are a far stronger side with the Argentine in the starting eleven, making it vital for the club to fend off any potential suitors in the months ahead.
The responsibility now lies with Spurs to show ambition and compete for major honours if they want to retain the 27-year-old. Romero will not want to spend his peak years merely fighting for Champions League qualification. If the Lilywhites are serious about keeping him, they must push to compete at the top end of the Premier League, giving the Argentine a compelling reason to stay and help close the gap on their rivals under Thomas Frank.