Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero has returned to London in a dramatic u-turn ahead of the final day of the Premier League season.
Romero had been brutally criticised in recent days after taking the decision to skip Spurs’ monumental clash against Everton to head to Argentina to watch his boyhood side Belgrano in their Championship final against River Plate on Sunday. Romero was born in Cordoba and came through the youth ranks at Belgrano before leaving for Genoa in Italy in 2019.
The defender was ruled out for the season after injuring his knee against Sunderland in April and travelled back to Argentina at the start of this week prior to Spurs’ game against London rivals Chelsea.
Their inability to gain a point at Stamford Bridge means their Premier League fate rests on Sunday’s result against Everton as well as how West Ham fare against Leeds United.
Romero was seen at Belgrano’s training ground on Friday, with the Argentine granted permission to use their training facilities as he steps up his recovery from injury to try and prove his fitness for the World Cup – and their president had said the defender would watch Sunday’s final with the club’s delegation.
However, the 28-year-old was pictured back in London on Saturday afternoon and now looks set to attend the Everton clash on Sunday and miss Belgrano’s game.
Cristian Romero is back in London ahead of Tottenham’s final game of the Premier League season
Romero was pictured in Argentina in Friday and was set to watch his boyhood club Belgrano in their Championship final on Sunday instead of cheering on Spurs against Everton
In a photo on his Instagram story, Romero shared a snap of him getting a haircut with his son in East Finchley to ease the pressure that he has been put under.
However, Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi refused to criticise his captain when asked about his trip to Argentina at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
‘Sometimes, not all the leaders are the same,’ he said. ‘Ben Davies spoke with me and asked to stay today to work with us. Tomorrow, we sleep in the hotel.
‘He wanted to stay with the team and team-mates. Romero is preparing for the World Cup with an injury. For me, nothing changed. Then we have to think, everything is for the best future of Tottenham.’
When pressed on how Romero was allowed to leave the country ahead of such a crucial game, De Zerbi added: ‘He spoke with the medical staff. Together, they decided to go to Argentina to complete rehab with Argentinian medical staff.
‘We spoke last week. With me, he has shown he wants to stay with us. I want to be clear, I am not stupid. If I understand that there is a player who thinks for himself before the club, I cannot be the same Roberto.
‘With Romero, I can’t say nothing. With me, in my time, he has been correct at the beginning until now.’
On the anger of fans, he said: ‘100 per cent I understand. I don’t know. Cristian is a top player and with me, he was a top guy. When I say top guy, it is because I am certain what I am seeing.’
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi refused to criticise Romero but said he understood fan anger
Romero’s expected absence led to a string of withering criticism from several figures, including Spurs legend Glenn Hoddle.
‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing,’ Hoddle fumed. ‘The captain of the football club has gone to Argentina to watch a game back there that is so-called more important than Tottenham’s last game of the season with the club on the brink of going down.
‘He’s captain of the football club. It’s scandalous! I’d drive him to the airport and say don’t bother coming back.
‘It sums his selfishness up. He can’t be a captain and act like that. If it was for his family or something like that then fine but if this is true that he’s going back to watch a football match, then let him stay in Argentina and get as much money for him as possible.’
