Cristian Romero has been confirmed as the new captain of Tottenham.
The Argentina international defender will inherit the leadership role from Son Heung-min who departed last week, moving to LAFC after 10 years at Spurs.
Romero had been among Atletico Madrid’s chief transfer targets earlier in the summer and a feeling he might be cleared to leave if the price was right.
Atletico, however, appear to have been deterred by Tottenham’s valuation of north of £60million.
Romero’s appointment as captain will end any speculation that he might leave North London this year but leaves open the prospect that the club might lose their captain again next year.
The 27-year-old World Cup winner, known as Cuti, has two years remaining on his contract and has often given the impression he would rather be elsewhere since arriving from Atalanta three years ago.
Cristian Romero will inherit the leadership role from Son Heung-min who departed last week
Former skipper Heung-min is now plying his trade in MLS with LAFC, having ended his decade-long stay in north London
Romero was made a vice-captain by Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2023 when Son took the armband from Hugo Lloris and has often led the team out.
Last season, he made a social media post thanking Argentina’s medical team for helping him back to fitness after a series of injury problems, notable for its failure to mention the medical team at Spurs, under fire amid an injury crisis.
Perhaps this move by Thomas Frank is partly designed to tighten his bonds as Spurs try to tie him down to a new contract.
On the pitch, Romero is the stand-out choice to succeed Son as the team’s leader. His style is strong and courageous and ‘from the front’ and he is likely to play in every game.
Although he is not as vocal as some others in the dressing room and has yet to undertake any media duties in English.
