Madrid renews pursuit of Cristian Romero amid Arsenal interest
Atletico Madrid renews pursuit of Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, also eyed by Arsenal. Spurs unlikely to sell to rivals, making Atletico or Inter Milan more likel
Atletico Madrid renew Cristian Romero pursuit, Arsenal also interested in Tottenham captain - The Athletic - The New York Times
Atletico Madrid’s renewed interest in Romero
Atletico Madrid has reportedly renewed its pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur‘s Cristian Romero, a defender who has also drawn interest from Arsenal. While Spurs are reportedly unaware of Arsenal‘s interest, they are unlikely to consider selling their captain to their north London rivals. This situation positions Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan as more probable destinations for Romero this summer.
Inter Milan has verbally agreed in principle to a fee with Spurs, reportedly around €40 million, for the Argentina international. However, personal terms with Romero have not yet been finalized. Atletico Madrid, under the management of Romero‘s compatriot Diego Simeone, had previously shown strong interest last summer and has now made the 28-year-old a target once again.
The possibility of Romero moving directly to Arsenal appears slim, given Spurs‘ stance on transfers with their rivals. Historical transfers between the clubs, such as Sol Campbell‘s move in 2001 and William Gallas‘s transfer in 2010, highlight the contentious nature of such dealings. Romero is expected to depart Tottenham this summer after four years with the club.
Following Atletico Madrid‘s initial interest, Spurs announced that Romero had signed a new contract extending to 2029 last August. This announcement came days after he was officially named club captain. Despite this, Romero faced criticism during a challenging season for Spurs, which saw them narrowly avoid Premier League relegation on the final day. His season included two red cards and public criticism of the club’s board.
Tottenham has already bolstered its central defense this summer by signing Marco Senesi on a free transfer after his contract with Bournemouth expired. They also acquired Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Financial maneuvers and transfer developments
Atletico Madrid has reportedly made significant progress in creating the necessary financial flexibility to pursue Romero. This has been achieved through several player sales. According to reports, sporting director Mateo Alemany has been instrumental in these swift moves to fund defensive reinforcements, with Romero identified as a top priority.
The breakthrough in funding came with the transfers of Matteo Ruggeri to Aston Villa and Nahuel Molina to Roma. Additionally, a final agreement was reached for Thiago Almada‘s transfer to River Plate. The deal for Almada is reported to be around €20 million. The sale of Ruggeri generated €18 million fixed plus €6 million in variables, while the Molina deal brought in €19 million, including €13 million fixed.
These proceeds have positioned Atletico Madrid to submit an initial offer of €30 million to Tottenham for Romero. There is cautious optimism within Atletico Madrid regarding the completion of this transfer. Romero is reportedly awaiting a resolution to his potential move.
Despite the progress on Romero, Mateo Alemany‘s plan for squad reinforcement is not yet complete. The team requires further additions to compensate for departures, including Antoine Griezmann, Thiago Almada, and Nico Gonzalez. So far, the club has only finalized the deal for Kang-in Lee. Future signings are contingent on further player exits, with candidates for departure including Jose Maria Gimenez, Thomas Lemar, and Carlos Martin.
Inter Milan‘s talks for Romero have reportedly stalled, partly due to difficulties in finalizing their own player departures and meeting the player’s salary demands, which are estimated to be around €8 million. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, is nearing the finalization of transfers for Matteo Ruggeri and Romero‘s Argentina teammate Nahuel Molina, which are expected to free up salary space.
Romero‘s performance at the FIFA World Cup this summer, where he helped Argentina reach a second consecutive final after their 2022 victory, has further highlighted his abilities. Inter, FC Barcelona, and Manchester United have all reportedly explored signing Romero in recent months.
A fit Cristian Romero is considered one of the top center-backs globally, and his aggressive, physically dominant style, combined with his ball-playing and tempo-setting abilities, is seen as a suitable fit for Simeone‘s Atletico Madrid. Spurs conceded 77 goals in 52 games last season, finishing 17th in the Premier League.
The potential arrival of Romero could lead to an intriguing central defensive trio alongside Dávid Hancko and Marc Pubill. Atletico Madrid reportedly does not plan to recruit another left-back this summer, which could leave them thin in that position if Hancko is utilized in central defense. The club’s strategy for further signings remains tied to player departures, with several academy players like Giano Monserrati, Julio Diaz, Costis, and Murcio already having moved on.
Source: nytimes.com
Rohan Gupta
Sports Reporter
