Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has moved to allay injury fears after being forced off during Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria on Thursday. The centre-back, who missed the final six Premier League games of last season with a right knee injury, was substituted in the 57th minute after aggravating the same issue.
Romero's Withdrawal Raises Concerns
Romero injured his right knee in a collision with his own goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, during Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in January. He battled back to fitness in time for the World Cup and started Argentina's opening Group C match, a 3-0 win over Algeria, playing the full 80 minutes. However, his early exit against Austria—just 12 minutes into the second half—sparked fears of a recurrence. He was replaced by veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi.
“I knew this could happen to me. I had a little issue there, I felt it again, but in three or four days I’ll be fine again, so that’s that,” Romero said after the match. “It’s nothing serious. Keep the head up and I'll come back stronger than before.”
Scaloni Optimistic but Cautious
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni expressed hope that the injury is not severe, though he acknowledged the lingering issue. “We don’t know the extent of Cuti Romero’s issue; it’s something he’s been dealing with for a while now,” Scaloni said. “We hope it’s nothing serious. Not only because he’s important, even though he can be replaced, but it’s always important to have everyone available. He’ll undergo tests tomorrow or the day after.”
Romero's availability for Argentina's final group game against Jordan remains uncertain, but the defender is optimistic he will be fit. Scaloni is expected to rotate his squad for that match with one eye on the knockout stages. Romero, a key figure in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph, continues to be a crucial part of the squad despite speculation over his Tottenham future.
