Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero will be on the other side of the world instead of watching the club’s biggest game in half a century.
The 28-year-old is injured after damaging knee ligaments in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last month and, instead of watching the crucial match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Everton on Sunday, will be supporting his boyhood team in Argentina.
Romero posted a picture with his family on a private jet as he sent a congratulations message to Belgrano who reached the Argentina championship play-off final against River Plate. Romero was born in Cordoba and came through the youth ranks at Belgrano before leaving for Genoa in 2019.
Romero did not attend Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in midweek which leaves them still needing a point against David Moyes’s men. If Tottenham are beaten – and West Ham United beat Leeds United at the Olympic Stadium – Spurs will be relegated for the first time since 1977. Romero had been in the Tottenham camp earlier in the week before returning to Argentina.
Belgrano have not won the Argentina championship in their 121-year history and president Luis Artime confirmed Romero would watch the final and said he had granted the player permission to use their training facilities as he continues his rehabilitation.
Romero, who was made Tottenham captain last year by Thomas Frank, is keen to prove his fitness to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni as they look to defend their World Cup crown next month.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has previously backed Romero, who left the pitch in tears when he was injured by his own goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky at Sunderland. De Zerbi said: “Cristian is a big player, an amazing guy [who] has been a great captain in my time even though he didn’t play. We talk on the phone and, when he is here, every morning he comes to my office.”
As he chases international glory with Argentina, Romero is also eyeing a potential move to Spain at club level. A move to Atlético Madrid fell through last year but he is believed to be a target for Barcelona.
Romero signed a new Spurs contract in August tying him to the club until 2029 and when De Zerbi was asked if he expected him to be part of the squad next season, he said: “It’s a good question but it is the wrong timing. The most important is how much the player wants to stay in this club. We are going to take all the decisions after the Everton game.”