Glenn Hoddle has launched a withering attack on club captain Cristian Romero for his plan to stay in Argentina this weekend rather than support Tottenham in their relegation decider with Everton.
Romero was ruled out for the season after injuring his knee against Sunderland 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.
Supporters have been called to rally round Roberto de Zerbi's team to help carry them to safety but team captain Romero is understood to be planning to stay in his native Argentina to support his boyhood club Belgrano in their Championship final against River Plate. The Cordoba-based club posted a video on social media of Romero at their training ground on Friday.
Incredulous, former Spurs captain and manager Hoddle said: 'I can't believe what I'm hearing. 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.'
Talking on social media network Peek, Hoddle continued: 'When I think back to the captains I played for and the great captains who went before me, the pride that you have in being captain of Tottenham. Wow. It's absolutely scandalous. It sums up his character. He's saying let's all pull together. Ha. He's just shown his true colours. Incredible decision. Call himself a captain?'
Former Spurs striker Teddy Sheringham echoed Hoddle's anger saying: 'The biggest game in the history of the club. This is going to be one nervy game and when your captain is not there that does not set a good example for everyone. That is naughty, that is loose from whoever is letting him do what he wants to do.'
'How does he even go about that? Is it ok if I go back to Argentina because my boyhood club are playing in an important game... What? Don't even ask the question! No! I need you alongside your teammates in the dressing room to give them some support. I can't believe he's asked the question, I can't believe he's been allowed to go. That sets a precedent that does.'
The 28-year-old Romero has featured just once under De Zerbi so far and is expected to leave in the summer after interest from Atletico Madrid last year. Earlier in the week, De Zerbi shut down questions over the centre-back’s future, making it clear that it will only be a topic of discussion once the campaign is over. When asked if he wants Romero to stay at Tottenham and be part of his plans, the Italian said: 'It is a good question, but it is the wrong timing, no?'
