Atletico Madrid don hold talks with Tottenham for move wey go bring Cristian Romero go Spain. The Argentina defender wey be Spurs captain, don bin sign new four-year deal last August, but e dey expected to leave di club this summer.
Inter Milan dey interested too, but as things stand, dem need to sell players first before dem fit act on dia interest. One source tell Sky Sports News say Arsenal bin look into Romero as option to strengthen dia centre-back department this summer, but di matter no progress beyond interest because Spurs no wan let dia captain join Premier League rival, not to talk of Arsenal.
Barcelona don enter di race as well, after dem sanction di departure of Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo to Liverpool. Araujo go on season-long loan with purchase option wey dey for di English side. Barcelona sporting director Deco don go back to di drawing board, and one name wey quickly rise to top of di list na Romero.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona don long admire Romero. E get di qualities wey di management want: physical strength, leader personality, ability to defend high and play under pressure. Romero bin dey Barcelona shortlist before, but di move no advance beyond candidacy stage until Araujo exit change everything. The 28-year-old appear open to leave Tottenham, and di English club don show willingness to consider offers.
Atletico Madrid stand out as di most prominent competitor for Romero signature. Dem don track am for long time and renew dia interest this window, after previous attempt collapse over Tottenham steep financial demands. Progress don come in recent weeks, particularly in Atletico contact with di player. Reports say dem open direct talks with Tottenham after reaching initial understanding with Romero over personal terms.
Barcelona strong entry into di deal fit flip di picture entirely, though. Di Catalans believe Romero bring elite experience and robust style, wey fit make am ideal partner for young talents like Pau Cubarsi for back line. Finances remain di main obstacle, and because of that, Barcelona previously favour loan over expensive permanent transfer. E no be only Romero dem dey study; dem also continue to look at Aymeric Laporte, di Spaniard wey dey play for Athletic Bilbao. Laporte return to Athletic Bilbao last summer from Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr, and e contract run until 2028.
Meanwhile, Atletico don make progress with sales of defenders Matteo Ruggeri wey dey close to move to Aston Villa, and Nahuel Molina wey expect to join Roma. Dis one go pave way for dem to approach Spurs. Tottenham also don add Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi to dia bloated centre-back department, so Romero exit fit dey easier.
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi don talk say e go respect di will of players if dem want leave. On July 30, De Zerbi bin yarn about Romero future: ‘At di beginning of my time in April, I had one million individual meetings! And [the players] told me what was dia idea. I said: Yes, help me to stay up and then I help you to leave. If you no help me stay up, you stay underwater with me!’
Romero miss di end of last season with knee injury as Spurs avoid relegation on di last day. Dem bin finish 17th and e bin get two red cards. E also bin criticise for travelling to Argentina before di crucial game against Everton, but De Zerbi defend am: ‘Romero with me was unbelievable. Top, in his behaviour, his respect. E suffer when e no play di last game. E no true say e want leave for Argentina to prepare for dia World Cup. E no true.’
Di Argentina international play all seven matches for Argentina run to di World Cup final last month, where dem lose to Spain. E bin sign new deal last summer wey expire for 2029, and dem make am captain by former boss Thomas Frank. But now, e dey di middle of transfer talk, with Atletico, Inter, and Barcelona all dey interested.
