Tottenham, ‘Son Heung-min’s best friend’ in the hunt
Tottenham Hotspur will not allow a key player to leave the club unless it is for an astronomical transfer fee.
“Real Madrid are interested in Cristian Romero, but Tottenham will stand firm,” The Spurs News, a British publication that focuses on Tottenham news, reported on Thursday (Aug. 14).
Romero, one of the members of Argentina’s World Cup 2022 champions, Qatar, joined Tottenham in the summer of 2021 from Italian Serie A side Atalanta. He initially joined on a one-season loan before signing a permanent deal to join Spurs in the summer of 2022. The transfer fee was reportedly €55 million (approximately $783 million).
Romero, a regular defender at Tottenham, was named vice-captain ahead of the 2023-24 season alongside James Maddison to assist captain Son Heung-min. At the time, Tottenham’s captaincy was reshuffled after Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich and Hugo Lloris was placed on the release list.
Romero’s temperamental nature sometimes led to unnecessary fouls in 2023-24, but alongside partner Micky Vander Penn, he was a key center back for Tottenham. Romero’s performance helped Tottenham finish fifth in the Premier League, earning them a spot in the UEFA Europa League the following season.
Romero’s presence will be essential if Spurs are to challenge for trophies next season and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. That’s why the news that Real Madrid, one of the world’s top clubs, is eyeing Romero is enough to make Spurs fans nervous.
The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League champions are reportedly considering a move for Romero to bolster their defense.
Citing a report from ESPN Argentina, sports media outlet 365Score said on Nov. 13, “Romero, who is currently in dazzling form in the Premier League (PL), is a target for Real. According to the report, Real are interested in Romero and have already contacted Tottenham about the terms of his signing.”
“You have to realize that this is the best moment of Romero’s career. He’s having a fantastic season and was one of the best defenders in the Premier League last season,” he said. “At 26, he’s in the prime of his career and ready to take a big leap forward.”
Fans are concerned that Romero could leave Tottenham this summer, as Real are one of the clubs interested in signing him. Real is a world-class club and a dream club for many players, and not many can resist its lure.
In the past, the likes of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale have been key players for Tottenham and pushed for a move when offered by Real, and Romero has said in the past that “I’ve always loved watching Real Madrid, and I’ve been emulating Sergio Ramos since I was a kid,” so it’s not unlikely that he’d make a move if Real made a serious offer.
Luckily, Tottenham fans will be happy to hear that. “Real Madrid are interested in Cristian Romero, but Tottenham will stay strong,” says The Spurs 바카라사이트 News, “Ange Postecoglou, who is in his second year as Spurs manager, will not lose his team’s best player for the second year in a row after losing Harry Kane.”
World-class striker Harry Kane, Tottenham’s greatest player of all time and Son Heung-min’s best partner, left Spurs last summer for German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, where he had played since youth.
Kane’s reason for parting ways with Spurs and donning a Munich shirt was trophies. He has been one of the best attackers in the world beyond the Premier League for Spurs, but has yet to lift a trophy in any major competition.
It was hard for the trophy-hungry Kane to resist an offer from Bundesliga’s top club Munich. Although he finished the year irrelevant this season, Munich are still strong favorites in various competitions, so he is expected to lift a trophy while in Munich.
While Tottenham were unable to prevent Kane’s departure, they are determined to prevent Romero from leaving as much as possible. Romero’s contract with Spurs expires in June 2027 and he still has three years left on it, so Real would have to offer an astronomical transfer fee to convince Spurs.
“According to HITC Football’s transfer expert Graham Bailey, Tottenham would be willing to listen to an offer in excess of £100 million for Romero, as they have for other players, but it is extremely unlikely that Real will spend that kind of money this summer,” the outlet said.
The outlet also claimed that Real will target 2005-born French defender Renny Yoro (LOSC Lille) as a backup plan if Romero is not available. Yoro’s talent was recognized at a young age as a starter for Lille in the French Ligue 1, and his contract expires in June 2025, so he fits the profile that Real are looking for as he is not expected to cost much.
If Real were to give up on Romero, Tottenham would avoid giving away another key player. Romero is also expected to lead Tottenham alongside Son Heung-min next season, helping the club’s trophy hunt and leap up the table.
