Cristian Romero’s Argentina call-up has sparked debate among Tottenham Hotspur fans, and former Spurs defender Pascal Chimbonda has now weighed in on the situation.
It has been an eventful few weeks for Tottenham’s vice-captain Cristian Romero, who has spent a significant portion of the season on the sidelines.
The Argentine centre-back has been out for over three months, leaving a noticeable gap in Ange Postecoglou’s defensive setup.
Although Romero finally returned to Tottenham first-team training last week, he has yet to be included in a matchday squad. His absence from the bench has only fuelled speculation about his readiness, with fans eager to see him back in action.
Despite this, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni named Cristian Romero in the squad for the upcoming international break.
The decision has not gone down well with sections of the Spurs fanbase, who believe he should focus on regaining match fitness before representing his country.
Pascal Chimbonda’s take on the Romero Argentina call-up
With the controversy brewing, Spurs Web chatted to Pascal Chimbonda regarding Romero’s international selection. The former Tottenham defender does not believe the centre-back will actually feature for Argentina, despite the noise.
He exclusively told Spurs Web: “I know Tottenham fans will think that a call-up is bad, but I do not think he will play. I believe that Romero will inform Argentina of his injury situation but will not take part in the international break.
“I think he will pull out of the squad. No chance he is going to play those games with Argentina.
“I never pulled out of a game through injury, but I cannot imagine Romero will push to play those international games when he has not even fully recovered at Spurs.”
When next could Cristian Romero return for Tottenham?
Romero’s recovery appears to be progressing well, with Postecoglou hinting at a potential return for the Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar.
If that fixture comes too soon, the Argentine could be back for the Premier League match against Bournemouth.
However, if he features for Tottenham before the international break, it becomes difficult to believe he would miss high-profile World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay.
Given his importance to Argentina, the decision will likely come down to whether he prioritises his club’s needs or risks pushing himself for his country.