Exclusive: Cristian Romero Targeted by Real Madrid and Atletico as Spurs Patience Wears Thin

Europe’s top clubs are queuing up to offer Cristian Romero an escape route from crisis club Tottenham Hotspur, including La Liga heavyweights, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, SportsBoom can reveal. 

Spurs’ Argentinian World Cup winner only signed a new four-year contract extension last summer.

But Romero has endured a season of controversy on and off the pitch, culminating in last Saturday’s sending off for a tackle on Casemiro in his team’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.

The former Atalanta hardman’s dismissal was his fourth in the Premier League and sixth in total since he moved from Serie A in 2021.

Manager Thomas Frank continues to support Romero, who skippered Spurs to Europa League glory over United last year, but our sources understand the club’s patience is running thin.

And despite all the player’s high-profile misdemeanours, Spurs know they can easily make a profit on the £42.5 million they paid for him.

A move to La Liga makes sense for the Spanish speaking centre half. Atletico were keen to sign him before his new contract and sources inside the Metropolitano want to open discussions again.

Romero’s flaws may be red flags to some clubs but at 27 he is an experienced defender. Real have been on the hunt for a player with physical presence since the days of Fernando Hierro, Pepe and Sergio Ramos.

Tottenham are already planning ahead defensively, with Spurs scouts tracking Las Palmas centre-back Mika Mármol as a potential new partner for Micky van de Ven, with the Spaniard available via a £10m release clause.

Juve Waiting in Wings

In Italy, Juventus have also been monitoring Romero’s problems with interest. The South America star played for the Turin side prior to moving to Atalanta and would welcome him back as part of their bid to become Italy’s leading side again.

They haven’t won the Scudetto since the last of their ninth successive titles in 2020 when Cristiano Ronaldo was part of the squad. Inter Milan are also understood to be possible suitors for renegade Romero.