Credit: Imago

Paul Robinson

Sun 6 April 2025 20:40, UK

Cristian Romero has had a troubled campaign at Tottenham with injuries and drops in form, but has remained a consistent starter when available.

While Ange Postecoglou will rightfully shoulder most of the blame for what has been a dreadful campaign, at least domestically, injuries have more than played their part as well.

Romero has had his troubles this season in that regard, with just 16 appearances in the Premier League, though all have arrived with him in the starting 11.

Europa League success remains a possibility for Tottenham, but a failure to achieve that would see them face the prospect of a campaign without European football next time out, which could have some drastic effects on and off the pitch.

Romero will be of interest to clubs this summer

Romero has almost always impressed for Spurs, which has, in turn, attracted interest from Atletico Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window.

Spurs will likely drive a hard bargain for the Argentinian, but Paul Robinson, when speaking to Tottenham News, isn’t surprised by the interest.

He said: “Every player’s got his price, but he’s a player that I like, and I think he gives Tottenham that little bit of bite, that little bit of spirit that’s sometimes missing from that team. Defensively, they’ve been susceptible, they’ve been weak. You’d say they lack leaders at times, but he’s a leader on the pitch.

“I think his performances this season haven’t been what they were last season, and I think he’s not on his own, though, as he’s playing in a team that’s underperformed, and defensively he’s been weak. He’s had his injury problems, but for me personally, he’s a player that I’d like to see stay. I know he’s had his critics and I know defensively at times he has been found wanting, but I think he’s a top quality player and if the likes of Atletico Madrid are looking at him, you question why.

“Simeone builds his team on defensive stability, and he’s not going to buy a player that he thinks he’s going to upset the balance of that. He’s a quality player, Romero, and like I say, the bite, the odd red card here and there, the attitude that he’s got towards playing, I don’t mind that, and I like a bit of that in the team, and I don’t think there’s enough of that in the Tottenham team. I don’t think you can afford to sell players like Romero.“

Micky Van De Ven would suffer from Romero departure

While very few will look back at the current campaign with any real fondness, one of the main positives has been the partnership of Romero and Micky Van De Ven.

If Tottenham are to progress next season, retaining that partnership will be key, while adding plenty of quality around it.

Tottenham have a huge summer ahead of them.