Tottenham Hotspur is maintaining a firm stance despite Atlético Madrid's overt love call surrounding key defender Cristian Romero (27). The club has set Romero's transfer fee at over £60 million (approximately 118.8 billion won) and has no intention of letting him go for a bargain.
The British 'Telegraph' reported on the 26th (Korea time) that "Tottenham has no intention of bowing to Atlético's attempts to acquire Romero," stating that newly appointed manager Thomas Frank (52) is facing a difficult challenge ahead of the season.
Romero is scheduled to return to preseason training in the second week of July, but he has not hidden his dissatisfaction with the current team's management style. In particular, Atlético Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone publicly remarked, "Do we want Cuti (Romero)? Of course. He's an excellent player," further heating up the atmosphere.
Coach Simeone is reported to have maintained regular contact with Romero, and since Romero has also expressed in the past that "he wants to play in La Liga someday," this interest does not seem to be a simple rumor.
While the Tottenham club has not made an official response regarding Atlético's actions, according to media reports, Chairman Daniel Levy is known for his tendency not to be swayed by "public pressure." In fact, Romero has a contract remaining until 2027, raising doubts about whether Atlético could pay over £60 million.
Manager Frank's concerns do not end there. On the day his appointment was announced, he had to face scenes where Romero indirectly expressed his dissatisfaction with the club's management by posting a farewell message to former manager Ange Postecoglou on social media. Romero praised Postecoglou, saying, "He paved the way despite the obstacles that always existed and will continue to do so," while the club's executives were thoroughly excluded.
In March, he only expressed gratitude for his recovery to the medical staff of the Argentina national team, not mentioning Tottenham's medical team, and in September last year, he shared a post criticizing the club's lack of support for personal jets after international matches.
Romero demonstrated leadership both on and off the field as the team's vice-captain until the end of the last season. He led the squad in the Europa League final and conducted a pre-game unity ceremony in front of the Manchester United Chin Young, and he was also the one who spearheaded the barbecue gathering to enhance teamwork.
According to the Telegraph, he stated in an interview in April, "I want to play in La Liga someday. Honestly, I really do. Let's see what happens after the season ends. I haven't had any specific discussions with my agent yet, but I always seek to improve," leaving the door open for a transfer.
Meanwhile, not only Romero but also captain Son Heung-min reportedly hinted at a farewell to some personnel within the club during the last match of the season. If both leaders, Romero and Son Heung-min, are lost at the same time in mid-summer, it will inevitably create a significant gap in Manager Frank's team management.
While James Maddison, who was a core part of the captain group under Postecoglou, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remain, it is expected to be essential to secure experienced resources to replace the two leaders.
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