Atletico Madrid are reportedly eyeing Tottenham’s Argentine defender, Cristian Romero, with plans for a potential transfer at the end of the season.
As the 26-year-old nears the final two years of his contract this July, interest from top European clubs is heating up.
Romero, a key figure for both Spurs and the Argentina national team, has battled injuries this season, missing 27 matches. Despite these setbacks, Atletico Madrid remain highly interested in his abilities and views him as one of the future stars of world football.
The versatile defender, who has established himself as a central part of Tottenham’s backline, was brought in from Atalanta in 2022 for a hefty £43 million. Since then, he’s made over 100 appearances and has contributed with seven goals.
However, Romero’s time at Tottenham hasn’t been without frustrations. He’s openly criticized the club’s failure to reinvest in the squad and pointed out the chronic issues that have plagued them for years. Speaking candidly to Telemundo Deportes, he expressed discontent with the club’s management, lamenting that key players are often sold without the proper funds being reinvested in new talent. This, he believes, has led to Tottenham’s underperformance.
“The situation has been the same for a while,” Romero stated. “Players leave, the management changes, but the same people remain in charge, and the problems continue. Look at Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Chelsea – they all strengthen their squads year after year. You can see the results of their investments. Tottenham should follow that example and realize where the issues lie.”
Romero also pointed out how injuries to several key players, including his defensive partner Micky van der Ven and summer signing Dominic Solanke, have exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth. As Spurs find themselves in 14th place in the Premier League, the defender remains concerned about the club’s future.
Since arriving at Tottenham, Romero has worked under five different managers, and witnessed a revolving door of high-profile departures – from Harry Kane to Steven Bergwijn to Davinson Sanchez. Each time, the squad has been left in need of reinforcements, with little consistency or long-term planning.
Despite the struggles, Spurs did manage a net spend of over 70 million pounds during the summer, including a record-breaking 55 million pounds transfer for Solanke and a 30 million pound investment in Leeds’ Archie Gray. However, these moves haven’t been enough to silence the growing concerns among players like Romero, who feel that the club’s decision-making is holding them back from competing at the highest level.
For now, Atletico are keeping a close eye on Romero, hoping to secure his services in the upcoming transfer window. With his talent and leadership, he could be the key to bolstering their defense. Whether Tottenham can meet his ambitions or whether he’ll be lured away by the promise of competing for major honors remains to be seen.
