Tottenham Finalizes Cristian Romero Transfer to Inter

Tottenham has reached a €40 million deal to sell Cristian Romero to Inter, with coach Roberto De Zerbi respecting the player’s wishes.

Tottenham Hotspur has reached a verbal agreement to transfer club captain Cristian Romero to Serie A side Inter Milan for €40 million (£34 million). This move comes as Romero has expressed a desire to seek a new challenge away from London, and Spurs’ head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has openly stated he respects that decision.

Since joining Spurs, the 28-year-old Argentina international has spent five seasons with the club. He was appointed captain by former manager Thomas Frank after the departure of Son Heung-min last season. Romero’s move to Inter is significant for both the player and the club, as it marks the end of an era during which he was considered a vital part of the Spurs defense.

De Zerbi, who took over the managerial position in April, confirmed his willingness to support Romero’s decision to leave. “At the beginning of my time, in April, I had one million individual meetings,” he explained. “The players shared their thoughts with me, and I said: ‘Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave’. If you don’t help me to stay up, you stay underwater with me!”

He further praised Romero’s contributions: “Romero with me was unbelievable. Top in his behaviour, he suffered when he did not play the last game. It’s not true that he wanted to leave for Argentina to prepare for their World Cup. It’s not true.” De Zerbi emphasized that he had never attempted to convince Romero to remain at the club, stating, “I respected what he told me. Like for Guglielmo Vicario, like for every player. Romero as a player is one of the best centre-backs in the world, but at the end I said I want to respect the will of the players.”

As discussions progressed, it became evident that before Inter’s interest came to the forefront, Romero had also attracted attention from La Liga giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, although a move to Spain ultimately did not materialize. In anticipation of Romero’s departure, Spurs have reinforced their defensive lineup by securing transfers for centre-backs Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi this summer.

While a verbal agreement has been reached between Spurs and Inter regarding the transfer fee, Romero’s personal terms with the Italian club are still being finalized. Ongoing negotiations between Inter and the defender’s representatives are expected to resolve the remaining details soon. Should everything be completed, the transfer will conclude Romero’s five-year stint with Tottenham as they continue their preparation for the upcoming season.