Cristian Romero’s impact with Argentina during the Copa America last summer were enough for Lionel Messi to recommend that Barcelona sign him.
Messi’s recommendation to the Catalan giants has been reported previously with the central defender revealing last August of the ‘amazing’ feeling to be wanted to be part of the same team as the magician (Marca).
The Athletic have revealed that while Messi was still at Barcelona and negotiating a new contract, he insisted that the Nou Camp outfit made an approach to Atalanta to sign Romero before anyone else came in.
Such was Messi’s hounding of club chiefs to land the Serie A defender of the year for last season due to his displays at Atalanta, they were desperate for Tottenham Hotspur to come in and secure a deal in order for Messi to stop pestering them.
Romero joined on an initial season-long loan deal which included an obligation to make the move permanent for £42.5million at the end of the current campaign (Evening Standard).
Antonio Conte spoke publicly last month to confirm Spurs do have an obligation within the deal (The Athletic) and simply confirmed “We bought him!”.
SpursWeb Opinion
£42.5million is appearing to be something of a bargain for Tottenham for a 24-year-old who has his best years ahead of him. Romero was superb once again in last night’s 2-0 win against Brighton in which he scored his first goal for the club, albeit unwittingly.
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More than that, he has proven time and time again he is the focal point of starting Tottenham’s moves from defence and is not afraid to get up the pitch and join in an attack.
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