Romero reflects on imperfect Tottenham spell before Atletico move

Cristian Romero has acknowledged that his five-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur was not flawless, as he prepares to leave the club for Atletico Madrid. The Argentina centre-back is set to join the Spanish side after the clubs agreed a fee of £34.2 million for the 28-year-old.

Romero's final appearance for Tottenham came in April, in a match against Sunderland. He left the pitch in tears after sustaining a knee injury that kept him out of the last six Premier League games. At that time, the team was fighting relegation, and supporters were disappointed when Romero initially planned to be in Argentina to watch his boyhood club Belgrano compete in a final. He eventually returned to England and attended Tottenham's 1-0 win over Everton, which confirmed the club's survival and a second consecutive 17th-place finish.

In a post on X, Romero said he knows he was not perfect, but he takes comfort in having always given his all and defended the shirt with pride and heart.

Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and became a regular in defence, making 156 appearances. His finest moment at the club was helping Spurs end a 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final.

He added that when he arrived, he dreamed of leaving his name in the club's history. He believed the only way to achieve that was through hard work, sacrifice, and winning a trophy again. Romero said he is leaving the club, but part of his heart will remain there. 'Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever,' he wrote, expressing gratitude.