Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has made a dramatic return to London ahead of the final day of the Premier League season, reversing his earlier decision to travel to Argentina to watch his boyhood club Belgrano in their championship final.
The 28-year-old defender had faced intense criticism in recent days after opting to skip Tottenham's crucial clash against Everton on Sunday in order to attend Belgrano's match against River Plate. Romero, born in Cordoba, came through the youth ranks at Belgrano before moving to Genoa in Italy in 2019.
Romero was ruled out for the season after sustaining a knee injury against Sunderland in April. He travelled to Argentina earlier this week, missing Tottenham's London derby against Chelsea. The team's failure to secure a point at Stamford Bridge means their Premier League fate now hinges on Sunday's result against Everton, as well as West Ham's performance against Leeds United.
On Friday, Romero was seen at Belgrano's training ground, having been granted permission to use their facilities to aid his recovery from injury in hopes of proving his fitness for the World Cup. The club's president had indicated that Romero would watch Sunday's final with the club's delegation. However, the defender was pictured back in London on Saturday afternoon and now appears set to attend the Everton match instead.
In a photo posted on his Instagram story, Romero shared a snapshot of himself getting a haircut with his son in East Finchley, seemingly to ease the pressure he has faced. Despite the backlash, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi refused to criticise his captain when questioned about the trip at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
"Sometimes, not all the leaders are the same," De Zerbi said. "Ben Davies spoke with me and asked to stay today to work with us. Tomorrow, we sleep in the hotel. He wanted to stay with the team and team-mates. Romero is preparing for the World Cup with an injury. For me, nothing changed. Then we have to think, everything is for the best future of Tottenham."
When pressed on how Romero was allowed to leave the country ahead of such a crucial game, De Zerbi added: "He spoke with the medical staff. Together, they decided to go to Argentina to complete rehab with Argentinian medical staff. We spoke last week. With me, he has shown he wants to stay with us. I want to be clear, I am not stupid. If I understand that there is a player who thinks for himself before the club, I cannot be the same Roberto. With Romero, I can't say nothing. With me, in my time, he has been correct at the beginning until now."
On the anger of fans, he said: "100 per cent I understand. I don't know. Cristian is a top player and with me, he was a top guy. When I say top guy, it is because I am certain what I am seeing."
Romero's expected absence had drawn withering criticism from several figures, including Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle. "I can't believe what I'm hearing," Hoddle fumed. "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."
