Roberto De Zerbi has revealed whether Cristian Romero is expected to leave Tottenham this summer and has shed light on his conversations with the Spurs captain.
According to various reports from Italy, Inter Milan hope to complete a swift deal for Romero after holding extensive talks with the centre-back’s representatives as well as Tottenham.
In fact, over the last 24 hours, several sources have said that Tottenham and Inter are edging close to an agreement on the 28-year-old, with only a £9m difference in the valuvations of the two clubs.
As the negotiations between the clubs continue, the Spurs head coach has now set the record straight on the defender, as well as another experienced Tottenham star.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi reveals promise he made to Cristian Romero
The 46-year-old has now confessed that he held many individual meetings with various Tottenham players after taking the job last season.
De Zerbi revealed that during those talks, he promised the likes of Cristian Romero that he would help them get the moves they want if they kept the club in the Premier League.
The Italian told Football.London: “At the beginning of my time, in April, I had, I don’t know, one million individual meetings! And [the players] told me what was their idea. I said: ‘Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave’. If you don’t help me to stay up, you stay underwater with me!
“But Romero with me was unbelievable. Top. In his behaviour, his respect, he suffered when he did not play the last game. It is not true that he wanted to leave for Argentina to prepare for their World Cup. It’s not true.”
De Zerbi will not convince Romero or Guglielmo Vicario to stay at Spurs
Another senior Spurs star who is expected to leave N17 is Guglielmo Vicario, who has emerged as Juventus’ top goalkeeping target this summer.
De Zerbi made it clear that he will not look to convince the goalkeeper or the Tottenham captain to stay at the club and be part of his project.
He added: “After the semi-final [against England] we sent a message (to Romero), but I never called him to convince him to stay. I respected what he told me. Like for Vicario, like for every player.
“Romero as a player is one of the best centre-backs in the world, but at the end I said I want to respect the will of the players.”