Cristian Romero's Public Critique of Tottenham's Transfer Strategy
Cristian Romero, Tottenham Hotspur's World Cup-winning captain, has launched another public swipe at the club's recruitment strategy following the closure of the January transfer window. The Argentine defender expressed his frustration that Spurs failed to secure sufficient reinforcements to address their mounting injury crisis, leaving the squad dangerously thin.
Deadline Day Activity and Romero's Reaction
On deadline day, Tottenham completed the signing of 18-year-old striker James Wilson from Heart of Midlothian, beating rivals Arsenal to his signature. Wilson will join on a six-month loan with an option to make the move permanent in the summer, spending the remainder of the season with the Under-21 squad in north London.
However, shortly after the transfer window closed at 7pm, Romero took to social media to voice his discontent. Referencing Sunday's dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester City in the Premier League – a match from which he was substituted at half-time due to illness – Romero posted: 'Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible. I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available – unbelievable but true, and disgraceful.'
The defender continued: 'We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans.'
Romero's post received significant support from within the squad, with teammates including Djed Spence, Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher, Pape Matar Sarr, Pedro Porro, and Kevin Danso among those who 'liked' the message.
Tottenham's January Transfer Business
During the January window, Tottenham secured the signing of England international midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for £35 million, alongside teenage Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos for £13 million. The club also sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35 million.
However, Spurs have been severely impacted by injuries this month, particularly in defence. When Romero was forced off against Manchester City, it left manager Thomas Frank without twelve first-team players. The makeshift defence included midfielder Archie Gray, Joao Palinha, and centre-half Radu Dragusin – who completed 90 minutes on his first start after more than a year out with a serious knee injury.
While Romero and Micky van de Ven could return for Saturday's match against Manchester United, and Djed Spence hopes to recover soon from a minor calf problem, several other players are expected to remain sidelined for weeks.
Management's Transfer Strategy and Romero's History of Criticism
Manager Thomas Frank has defended Tottenham's transfer strategy, explaining that the club opted to hold their nerve rather than pursue short-term fixes that could compromise long-term plans. Spurs were involved in the scramble for Antoine Semenyo, who ultimately joined Manchester City from Bournemouth for £65 million and scored against Tottenham on Sunday. The club also came close to securing a deal for left-back Andy Robertson, but Liverpool's own injury issues prevented his departure without a replacement. Robertson is expected to become a target again when his Anfield contract expires at the end of the season.
Romero, however, remains clearly unsatisfied with these explanations. This marks the second time this year the Argentine has taken to social media to express his frustration. In January, following a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, Romero posted: 'At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don't – as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.' He later deleted the reference to 'lies', but the post was liked by teammates including Richarlison, Pedro Porro, and Xavi Simons, and was widely interpreted as criticism of the board's perceived lack of ambition.
Head coach Frank chose not to punish his captain following the January incident, stating that the air had been cleared during a meeting involving Romero and Johan Lange, one of the club's two sporting directors.
Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil
Adding to the backdrop of this discontent is the departure of Fabio Paratici, Tottenham's other sporting director. Paratici made it clear he wanted to leave for Fiorentina in December, despite having only returned to an official role in October following the completion of a worldwide ban for his involvement in financial irregularities at Juventus. Known for his deal-making prowess and extensive network of contacts, Paratici was required to remain at Tottenham until the transfer window closed and will begin his new role in Florence later this week.
Romero's latest outburst underscores growing tensions between the playing squad and the club's hierarchy regarding transfer policy and squad depth, raising questions about Tottenham's direction as they navigate a challenging season.
