Tottenham Hotspur will demand at least €50 million before entering any discussions over the sale of Cristian Romero, putting a significant financial obstacle in the way of Atletico Madrid’s pursuit of the Argentine centre-back.
According to Fichajes, Atletico had been hoping to negotiate a cut-price deal for Romero, who has been a priority target for Diego Simeone as the Spanish club look to reinforce their backline ahead of next season. However, Spurs have no intention of selling cheaply and will only sit down at the table once an offer of around €50m arrives, with the final fee likely to rise further from that initial benchmark.
Why Atletico Madrid want Cristian Romero
Simeone’s personal admiration for Romero is at the heart of this pursuit. The Atletico manager has spoken highly of the 27-year-old in the past and sees him as the ideal profile to lead his defence: aggressive, experienced at the highest level and a serial winner at international level.
Romero was part of the Argentina squad that won back-to-back Copa Americas and the 2022 World Cup, and has been Tottenham’s captain since Son Heung-min’s departure last summer.
Atletico’s interest has been building for some time. Reports from earlier in the season suggested they had been exploring whether a deal around €60-70m was feasible, and more recent reports indicate they are now hoping to bring that figure down. Spurs are unmoved on their valuation.
Will Tottenham actually sell Cristian Romero this summer?
That is the central question. Romero is contracted at Hotspur Way until 2029, having signed a new deal that settled his future after similar exit rumours surfaced last summer.
Roberto De Zerbi is coming in as the new head coach with significant rebuilding work ahead, and it is far from certain he would sanction the departure of one of the squad’s most experienced leaders at such a critical moment for the club.
Atletico’s financial position also complicates matters. A fee of €50m represents a significant outlay for a club that has had to be careful with spending in recent windows, and Fichajes notes they do have cheaper alternatives under consideration.
Whether Simeone’s insistence on Romero is enough to force the issue remains to be seen, but at the price Tottenham are quoting, this is a deal that would require real commitment from the Madrid club to get done.
