Cristian Romero is poised to depart Tottenham Hotspur this summer, with both Inter Milan and Barcelona expressing interest in the Argentinian centre-back, according to Fabrizio Romano. The news comes after a challenging season for Romero, where his form dipped and he faced both disciplinary issues and a significant knee injury.
Romero, who captained Tottenham last season, endured a campaign marred by two red cards and a noticeable decline in performance. He missed the final six games of the season due to a knee injury sustained in a match under Roberto De Zerbi, initially fearing it would jeopardize his participation in the Copa America. Despite this, he has started all five of Argentina’s matches in the tournament, ahead of a semi-final clash with England.
Despite signing a new contract with Tottenham less than a year ago, Romero has long held ambitions to play in Spain, with Atletico Madrid previously linked with a move for him. The potential for a transfer arose further after De Zerbi brought in Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, seemingly indicating a shift in defensive priorities. Inter Milan have reportedly held discussions with Tottenham, with Romero potentially being offered as part of a deal for Djed Spence.
Barcelona appears to be the more attractive destination for Romero, given his playing style is well-suited to La Liga. However, Tottenham are expected to demand a fee of around £50 million (€58.5m / $67m) for their former captain. During his time at Spurs, Romero scored 13 goals in 156 appearances, notably playing a key role in their Europa League final victory in 2025 alongside Micky van de Ven. His form, however, declined under subsequent managers Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.
This move signals a significant change for Tottenham as they look to rebuild under De Zerbi, while providing Romero with an opportunity to pursue his desire to play in Spain or potentially return to Italy, where he previously represented Genoa and Atalanta. The transfer will allow Spurs to reinvest funds and reshape their defensive options for the upcoming season.
