Cristian Romero looks increasingly likely to leave Tottenham before the transfer window closes, but with multiple clubs still in the race, here is everything we know about his situation so far.
Roberto De Zerbi made it clear earlier this week that he would not stand in the way of any player who wants to leave the club, insisting he has no interest in keeping anyone who is not fully committed to the project.
The Italian also revealed that, before the end of last season, he had made a promise to several players who wanted to leave, telling them that if they helped Tottenham avoid relegation, he would help facilitate a move away this summer.
And the player in question was club captain Cristian Romero, who is widely expected to leave North London over the coming weeks despite signing a new contract less than a year ago.
Recurring injury problems, inconsistent availability and disciplinary issues over his six years at the club have left Spurs preparing for life without the Argentina international, with Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke already signed as replacements.
Romero has attracted interest from clubs across La Liga, Serie A and the Premier League over the past year, but with his departure now edging closer, here is where the situation currently stands.
Where Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid stand in the race for Tottenham captain Cristian Romero
Reports over the past few days, including from Fabrizio Romano, suggested that Tottenham had reached an agreement with Inter Milan on a deal worth around €40m (£34m) for Cristian Romero.
Should the move go through on those terms, Spurs would be accepting a loss on the defender, having signed him for £42.5m in 2022 despite his value rising considerably during his time in North London.
However, there is still work to be done before any agreement can be completed, as Inter are yet to agree personal terms with Romero, who is reportedly seeking to maintain his current Tottenham salary of around £195,000 per week. According to Romano, the Italian club are expected to decide on those demands ‘soon’.
Moreover, Sky Sports have recently reported that the overall package required to complete the move, including Romero’s wage demands, is currently proving ‘prohibitive’ for Inter. That means the Serie A side may need to complete player sales before they can unlock the necessary funds, creating delays that could allow rival clubs to enter the race.
One of those is Atletico Madrid, who have stepped up their interest over recent days and are prepared to go ‘all out’ to sign the Tottenham captain. Their La Liga colleagues, Barcelona, however, have backed out due to the financial demands involved.
There are, however, conflicting reports regarding Atletico’s proposal. Marca claim the Spanish club are only willing to offer around €30m (£26m), while Romano insists Atletico’s planned bid is ‘in line’ with Inter’s €40m package.
And one important piece of information Romano adds is that Atletico are waiting to complete the sales of Nahuel Molina and potentially Matteo Ruggeri as well before formally submitting their offer.
Why Atletico Madrid may have the advantage in the race for Cristian Romero
While both Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid remain firmly interested, the Spanish club may hold one important advantage.
Romero has never hidden his desire to play in Spain, having openly admitted he would ‘love to play in La Liga’ when Atletico Madrid first explored a move for him last summer. Several reports this summer have continued to suggest that his preferred destination remains the Metropolitano.
The Tottenham captain is also believed to be keen on working under fellow Argentine Diego Simeone, with that feeling seemingly shared by the Atletico Madrid boss. According to reports from Spain, Simeone ‘loves’ Romero and considers him the perfect centre-back for Atleti.
With Inter Milan still facing financial hurdles and Atletico waiting to complete outgoing transfers before making their move, Tottenham could yet find themselves in the middle of a genuine bidding battle before Romero’s future is finally decided.