Cristian Romero, a defender for Tottenham Hotspur, has reportedly paused discussions regarding a potential move to Inter Milan, as he continues to hold out for an offer from Barcelona. His representatives have maintained communication with Barcelona‘s sporting management, anticipating a late transfer that could impact the team’s defensive lineup before the transfer window closes.
Barcelona has included Romero on their list of potential targets. However, the club has communicated that they will not pursue his signature unless one of their current defenders or full-backs departs. This stance comes despite Inter Milan‘s recent meeting with Romero‘s agent, where a four-season deal was reportedly offered. The proposed contract with Inter Milan included a salary slightly below his current earnings at Tottenham but with additional years.
Romero’s transfer situation
Talks between Romero‘s representatives and Inter Milan reportedly stalled from the player’s side. An agreement on the transfer fee was also not reached, with the English club seeking 50 million euros, although they are said to be open to negotiation. Tottenham is reportedly prepared to allow the Argentina international to leave, and the possibility of a loan agreement with an option to buy has emerged if the player continues to push for an exit.
Due to the stalled negotiations, Inter Milan has reportedly agreed terms with Manchester City defender John Stones, whose contract is nearing its end. This development sends a clear message to Romero: Inter Milan would only sign him now if they are able to sell Pavard during the current transfer window. The situation for Romero reportedly came to a halt once he made his desire to wait for Barcelona clear, following interest shown by Deco.
Barcelona is considering reshaping its defensive line through two main avenues. One option is to sign a top-class defender if a current defender or full-back, such as Araujo or Kounde, leaves the club. The second approach involves pursuing a younger player with potential for growth, ideally a left-footed defender. The Salinas deal is still being considered by Barcelona, but the Catalan club is reportedly unwilling to pay the 16 million euros requested by Racing.
Despite the complexities, Romero is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to facilitate his registration with Barcelona. Time may also be a factor in Barcelona‘s favour, as Tottenham needs to offload players, and the Argentine defender is scheduled to report for training with the London side from 10 August.
Barcelona’s defensive considerations
While Barcelona values Romero as a player, a move appears unlikely at present due to his high salary, which reportedly would not align with the Catalan club’s current wage structure. The club is operating under strict salary constraints and aims to avoid further complications with La Liga‘s Financial Fair Play regulations. Romero‘s departure from Tottenham this summer is considered highly probable, with his profile as an experienced player in his prime being highly regarded at the Spotify Camp Nou.
For Barcelona, manager Hansi Flick is expected to continue relying on Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin as his primary central defensive pairing. Eric Garcia will also be an option when needed, and Flick reportedly holds Andreas Christensen in high regard, having played a significant role in his contract renewal. Ronald Araujo, despite the increased competition for places, reportedly has no intentions of leaving the club. Alvaro Cortes, who made his first-team debut last season, will also be considered as a defensive option for the manager.
Reports also indicate that Arsenal, along with Inter Milan and Chelsea, are interested in signing Romero this summer. Romero‘s current contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set to expire in the summer of 2029.
Source: goal.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter