If Son Heung-min (33) leaves, will Cristian Romero (27, Tottenham) follow in his footsteps? Tottenham's new captain candidates are quietly being organized.
British 'Spurs Web' reported on the 28th (Korea time) that "If Son Heung-min transfers, Cristian Romero is the most likely candidate to take the captain's armband." This indicates a specific discussion of a shift in team leadership, citing reports from the 'Daily Mail.'
Son Heung-min has been consistently participating in preseason friendly matches, but his future with the club remains uncertain. With Los Angeles FC (LA FC) having made an official offer, some local media are increasingly seeing the possibility of a transfer this summer as more probable.
Coach Frank said in a press conference last week that he has "not yet made a decision" regarding the captain's selection. Internally, discussions about a successor have already begun, given Son Heung-min's uncertain status.
The top candidate is Cristian Romero. With a World Cup-winning background, strong leadership, and symbolism as the cornerstone of the defense, Romero is seen as a natural successor. The Daily Mail reported that "Atletico Madrid once pushed to recruit Romero, but backed down from Tottenham's £60 million (approximately 1.16 billion won) transfer fee demand," suggesting that his chances of staying have increased.
However, there are variables. It is reported that Romero has yet to readily engage in renegotiating his contract with Tottenham. Contract uncertainty could hinder the selection of a captain. Coach Frank's avoidance of commenting on Romero's future is not unrelated to this.
Meanwhile, it is not certain that Son Heung-min will definitely transfer. Some reports suggest that Son Heung-min might remain until the January transfer window to reaffirm his position under Coach Frank. However, given the difficulty of guaranteeing a starting position, the likelihood of Coach Frank appointing a new captain before the season opener is increasing.
Whether Son Heung-min leaves or stays, Tottenham is preparing for change.
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