Cristian Romero: A Spurs Legacy Ruined?
Written by Ryan Walton https://x.com/ryantalks_footy
Cristian Romero has always been a divisive figure among Spurs fans since his arrival from Atalanta in the summer of 2021. Whether it be the consistent yellow cards (and sometimes the reds too), the shots fired at the club’s hierarchy on numerous occasions, or more recently with the alleged trip to Argentina to miss Spurs’ final game of the season: the World Cup winner has given fans plenty of headaches over the years. With some reports now suggesting his willingness to join bitter rivals Arsenal, some fans have understandably reached the final straw with Romero, who, according to Fabrizio Romano, looks set to complete a move to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
Romero’s Time at Tottenham
Despite the controversies around him, Cristian Romero has enjoyed a largely fruitful spell in North London. Across five seasons, Romero has 123 Premier League appearances in Lilywhite, scoring 11 goals during that time. The Argentine has been at the heart of our defense through many ups and downs at the club, seeing matches ranging from the embarrassing 6-1 away defeat to Newcastle in April 2023, to the famous night in Bilbao where we lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy after a 1-0 win over Manchester United. Most recently, Romero took on the captain’s armband for the 2025/26 season, however he managed just 23 PL appearances due to injury and suspension.
How Romero fits Atletico
It’s no secret that Diego Simeone has wanted Cristian Romero for a while now. It was heavily rumored before Romero’s contract extension in the summer of 2025 that Atletico were ready to move for the World Cup winner, however they were quickly put off by Tottenham’s asking price, which led to that extension. Fast forward to today, and many sources suggest that his move to the Spanish capital is reaching the final stages.
Romero’s tenacity and aggressive nature will be loved by Simeone and the Atletico fans, and his passion shown on the pitch will immediately connect him with the supporters.
Has Romero ruined his Spurs legacy?
When Cristian Romero inevitably departs Tottenham this summer, there will be undoubtedly be those who are ecstatic to see the back of the defender, and rightly so. Throughout his Spurs career, Romero has been shown unwavering support by the fans despite multiple controversies that could have easily turned the fanbase against him. As of today, with the arrivals of Jan Paul Van Hecke and Marcos Senesi at centre-back, and the already present Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso, there is just no space for Romero in the squad. Coupled with his antics off the field at times, the captain sadly seems more hassle than he’s worth for us, and it is the right time to part ways.
However, this should not taint his on-field achievements in a Spurs shirt. Romero was instrumental to our triumphant Europa League campaign in 2024/25, where he put in a defensive masterclass in the final to guide us to the trophy. Many fans, including myself, would also consider the Argentine to be the best defender the club has had since Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld’s time in N17. Only the recent Arsenal rumors would at all hurt his Tottenham legacy, but seeing as that is extremely unlikely to happen, it is something fans will certainly forget in time.
Cristian Romero should leave Tottenham with fans’ best wishes and thanks for his contribution, and knowing that he was a very important player during a rocky period for the club.