Cristian Romero’s potential departure from Tottenham has never appeared closer after an official announcement.
Romero has been widely linked with Atletico Madrid despite Spurs’ desire to keep the centre-back.
It has been suggested that Tottenham could now look to extend his contract, which would see the Argentine remain in North London and resume his formidable on-field partnership with Micky van de Ven.
However, his future remains increasingly uncertain after a new Tottenham announcement.
Tottenham announce away kit without Romero
Tottenham unveiled their new away kit for next season on Thursday (26 June), with the strip now available for fans to purchase.
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Several Spurs players featured in the video announcement, including Son Heung-min, who has also been linked with a departure this summer. However, there was no sign of Romero.
This could indicate that the defender is set to leave Tottenham. Indeed, it is believed that the sacking of Ange Postecoglou, with whom Romero shared a close bond, might have been the final nail in the coffin
It has been widely reported that Tottenham have already begun looking for potential replacements, such as Jarrad Branthwaite, who has become a viable option for the North London club.
However, if Romero does leave, Spurs will need to lock down a replacement soon to avoid future upsets.
Romero’s departure could be a positive for Tottenham
Tottenham played 38 Premier League matches last season, and Romero featured in just 18. Indeed, injuries have plagued the defender ever since he was signed from Atalanta four years ago.
There is no doubt that Romero is one of the best defenders in England when fit. The Argentine is proficient when playing out from the back and is unafraid to perform a last-ditch tackle.
When the World Cup winner is playing alongside van de Ven, few Premier League partnerships compare. But injuries meant that Spurs supporters were robbed of seeing that duo for most of last season.
Postecoglou’s high-intensity football might have been partly to blame. The Australian was partial to a high line, which saw his defenders cover more ground when tracking back.
However, injuries had been a pressing concern before Postecoglou’s tenure. Therefore, Romero’s departure could be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham.