The defender has long been looking for a move away from Tottenham, and having returned from the World Cup, the Argentinian's exit has now been confirmed as he joins Atletico Madrid
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed Cristian Romero's departure to Atletico Madrid.
Spurs' now-former captain leaves for a reported £34million and the 28-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish side. It comes just days after the Argentina international was controversially linked with a move to Arsenal during this summer transfer window.
It was said that Romero would be keen to join the Premier League champions, but Spurs were determined not to sell to their north London rivals. Atletico have described Romero as "a very physical footballer" who is "quick in anticipation" and has "a lot of leadership on the pitch".
The statement Spurs have shared on their website is barely 130 words long. Their social media post announcing the agreement features just 20.
Romero has been with the club since joining on an initial loan from Atalanta in 2021. He has played 156 times for Spurs, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists.
The defender has had extra time off during pre-season after helping Argentina to reach the World Cup final in North America. Romero had, however, made it clear that he wanted to move on this summer, with head coach Roberto De Zerbi acknowledging as much when speaking to football.london.
Romero posted a goodbye video to fans on Friday evening, where he said: "Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club. It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives.
"I leave with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together.
"When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club's history. I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it.
"The journey wasn't perfect, but I don't want that to define my goodbye. I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years.
"Thank you to everyone at the club who shared this journey with me. Coaches, teammates, staff and every person working behind the scenes, you are all part of my story and have a place in my heart.
"And to the fans: Thank you for loving me, respecting me and making me feel like one of you from day one. Thank you for every hug, every song, every flag, every applause and for always being there.
"I know I wasn't perfect, but one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart.
"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING I'm leaving the club, but a part of my heart will always remain here. Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever. With all my love and respect. Thank you for everything. And goodbye @spursofficial."