Updated: 6 May 2026 20:09 BST |
5 min read
Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Chris Waddle believes Cristian Romero has never looked like he wanted to be at the club and expects the captain to leave at the end of the season.
Romero joined Spurs from Serie A side Atalanta on an initial season-long loan with the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the 2021/22 season – a clause they eventually decided to trigger.
The 28-year-old has since gone on to make 156 appearances for Tottenham, playing a significant role in helping end the club’s 17-year trophy drought with victory over Manchester United in last season’s Europa League final.
However, Romero has also struggled to maintain his discipline during his time in north London, with the defender having received four red cards for Spurs – with two of them coming in the Premier League this season.
The fiery centre-back, who replaced Son Heung-Min as Tottenham captain ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, received his marching orders against Liverpool last December and United in February of this year.
Romero also took aim at the Spurs hierarchy in February, saying it is “disgraceful” that he and his team-mates are part of a squad which he perceives to be threadbare in their fight to remain in England’s top flight.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are currently 17th in the table and just one point above 18th-placed West Ham United with three games remaining, though recent wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa have lifted the mood surrounding the club.
While Romero can no longer play a part in helping Spurs avoid relegation to the Championship, having suffered a season-ending knee injury in the loss at Sunderland in April, the centre-back has now been told there is a “fair chance” the club will sell him regardless of whether they stay up or not.
In an interview with GOAL, Waddle – who made 173 appearances for Tottenham between 1985 and 1989 – said: “Romero, for me, I don’t think he’s ever wanted to be at Tottenham, personally. But I think it’s a fair chance that they’ll cash in on him, even if they stay up.”
Waddle believes there is a chance Spurs will have to form a new centre-back partnership next season, predicting that Micky van de Ven may also depart the club in the summer transfer window.
“There’s not a lot more. Van de Ven, I’m sure will be in demand – World Cup coming up, if he has a big tournament, that’ll increase the transfer fee,” Waddle added. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to play in the Championship. I’m not sure if he wants to stay at Tottenham.”
Spurs will be keeping a close eye on relegation rivals’ West Ham’s crunch Premier League clash with Arsenal at the London Stadium on Sunday, before entertaining Leeds United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the following day.
Analysis: Romero linked with Champions League clubs ahead of summer transfer window opening
As Romero watches on in the hope that Tottenham clinch Premier League survival this season, The Telegraph are reporting that the Argentina international is attracting interest from Champions League clubs.
While the former Juventus and Genoa man has suffered from ill-discipline during his time in north London, there is no doubt he has proven to be a brilliant signing for the club, having been named Man of the Match in the famous 1-0 win over United in last season’s Europa League final.
Should Romero wish to leave Tottenham in the summer, he faces a race against time to put himself in the shop window at the World Cup, however, with the defender currently on the sidelines with a knee injury.
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