Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has faced internal disciplinary measures following his explosive social media comments about the club's squad situation, manager Thomas Frank has confirmed.
Romero's Fiery Instagram Post Sparks Controversy
The Argentine international sparked headlines on Monday evening when he took to Instagram shortly after the transfer window closed. Romero revealed he had played through illness during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Manchester City and described it as "disgraceful" that Tottenham had only eleven fit senior players available for the crucial Premier League fixture.
This outburst came against a backdrop of mounting frustration among supporters regarding the club's limited transfer activity since the signing of Conor Gallagher on January 14th. The situation has been further compounded by Tottenham losing nine players to injuries since the beginning of 2026.
Frank's Measured Response to Media Questions
Ahead of Saturday's challenging trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford, Frank addressed the growing controversy surrounding his captain. When pressed about whether Romero had been fined or faced other disciplinary consequences, the Tottenham manager carefully sidestepped direct confirmation.
"Cuti is a very passionate character and player," Frank explained. "He wants to leave everything on the pitch and he is very ambitious and wants to win every time. Sometimes when you are like that, there can be an outburst, which happened this time. It is something we have dealt with and dealt with internally."
The manager emphasized that while he personally would not have made similar public comments, he understood Romero's passionate nature. "I wouldn't have done it. That's my message," Frank stated. "I think the beauty of written text is that you can read a lot into it and nobody really knows what was the purpose of it except Cuti or the guys who have spoken to him."
Previous Social Media Incidents and Team Reactions
This recent incident marks the second time this season that Romero has made his feelings clear on social media following disappointing results. The defender previously expressed frustration after Tottenham's 3-2 away defeat to Bournemouth on January 7th.
Several of Romero's teammates liked his latest Instagram post, but Frank downplayed the significance of this digital support. "First and foremost, we don't know what a like means," the manager countered. "I don't know how many words were there in the text. Is it, 'well done guys, you did amazingly when I had to go off at half-time'. If that is a like, then perfect, then there is nothing."
Fitness Updates and Transfer Window Assessment
Despite the controversy, Frank confirmed he expects Romero to be available for selection against Manchester United, with the defender having recovered from his recent illness. In a timely boost for the squad, Micky van de Ven will also return after missing the last two matches with a minor injury.
Addressing questions about Tottenham's transfer activity, Frank defended the club's business while acknowledging limitations. "I think we signed Gallagher, which is a quality player for the starting XI," he explained. "If you compare it to other Premier League clubs, I think that is very good. We tried to do more but it was not possible for whatever reason."
Club Ambitions Amid Challenging Season
Currently positioned fourteenth in the Premier League table, Tottenham find themselves nine points above West Ham in the relegation zone but ten points adrift of Liverpool in sixth place. Frank reiterated the club's ambitions despite their challenging position.
"We are in different stages of where we want to be, but that's not to say that we are not ambitious," the manager asserted. "We are very ambitious. I think where we are is okay given the circumstances we've faced with injuries and squad limitations."
The situation highlights the growing tensions at Tottenham Hotspur as they navigate a difficult period marked by injury crises, limited transfer activity, and now public expressions of frustration from key players like their passionate captain Cristian Romero.
