Atletico Madrid is attempting to sign Tottenham Hotspur's defender Cristian Romero (27) and midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (28) as it seeks to bolster its defense and midfield.

The British newspaper The Times reported on the 25th that "Atletico Madrid is showing interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur's midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and center-back Cristian Romero this summer."

The outlet noted, "Argentine representative defender Romero recently expressed in an interview, 'I want to experience a new place' and 'I want to play in La Liga,' revealing his desire to move to Spain."

In fact, Romero recently sent a love call to Atletico Madrid in an interview with the YouTube channel Los Edul, stating, "It is time for me to play in Spain. I want to experience all the big leagues." He hopes to reunite with his Argentine teammates Nauel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, and Julian Alvarez, with whom he won the World Cup.

Negotiations are reportedly still ongoing. According to reports, Tottenham has kept the possibility of a swap deal open, mentioning midfielder Conor Gallagher as a potential target for the swap. Ultimately, however, cash is prioritized.

Atletico is also targeting midfielder Bentancur in addition to Romero. The Times reported, "Tottenham wants Bentancur to stay and has entered contract renewal negotiations with him, but several teams, including Atletico, are prepared to take advantage of the situation if the negotiations break down."

Bentancur is a versatile midfielder capable of both attacking and defending in midfield, known for his smooth touch, concise ball progression, and diligent pressing ability. He shows strength in transitioning between defense and attack and has competent off-the-ball movement, often scoring decisive goals. However, due to his rough defensive style, he frequently commits fouls and receives yellow cards, and his creativity and key passing ability are relatively lacking. His skills peak when tactical instructions are clear, having performed at his best under manager Maurizio Sarri.

Bentancur appeared on the Uruguayan broadcast program For La Camiseta in June last year, and when asked for Son Heung-min's jersey, he said, "Sonny? It might be a cousin's jersey. They all look the same," making a clearly racist remark. This statement, which generalized Koreans by appearance, sparked fierce criticism, and the Football Association of England (FA) recently formally charged Bentancur with violations of FA regulations.

Later, Bentancur apologized via social media, saying, "Sonny, brother. I'm really sorry. It was a bad joke. I truly respect you and never intended to insult or hurt you." Son Heung-min also noted, "Bentancur acknowledged his mistake and apologized. He meant no harm."

Although he stirred up a racial controversy, Atletico does not seem to be greatly concerned. The outlet reported, "Manager Diego Simeone wants to bolster the midfield, and Bentancur has been identified as a key target."

It was added that "Atletico and manager Simeone still want Romero and have already officially contacted Tottenham. They plan to attempt another recruitment this summer."

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