Christian Romero (27, Tottenham), who has drawn the radar of the 'Spanish elite' Real Madrid, seems to be approaching the time to choose between staying or transferring. Tottenham, which wants to renew the contract, is urging a quick decision.
According to British media outlet 'Spurs Web' on the 20th (Korean time), "Tottenham is preparing an ultimatum for Romero, who is receiving interest from Real Madrid," and added, "The club wants Romero to make a decision before the summer transfer window.
Romero joined Tottenham on loan from Atalanta in 2021 and made a permanent transfer a year later. Since then, he has steadily been a key figure in the defense and is serving as one of the vice-captains along with Son Heung-min and James Maddison this season. With his quick feet and bold defense, he has gained the trust of manager Ange Postecoglou.
However, frequent red cards and rough play have often burdened the team. Nevertheless, Romero is regarded as one of the top defenders in the Premier League.
Tottenham strongly hopes for Romero's stay. His current contract runs until the summer of 2027, but since only two years will remain after this season, there is a possibility of a shift towards a sale if the contract renewal is delayed.
'Give Me Sports' reported that Tottenham has offered Romero the top-level contract conditions within the team. Currently, Son Heung-min is the highest-paid player in the team, earning £190,000 per week (approximately 360 million won), while Romero is reportedly earning £165,000 per week (approximately 310 million won). Tottenham is trying to persuade by narrowing this gap.
However, Romero has not shown a clear response despite these conditions. 'Spurs Web' reported, "Romero has not made a decision yet, and the participation in next season's UEFA Champions League is a factor."
Tottenham's league ranking has currently dropped to 14th, making the chances of qualifying for the next season's Champions League slim. Winning the UEFA Europa League is practically the only hope, but competition against strong teams like Manchester United, Frankfurt, and Athletic Club makes it difficult to guarantee victory.
'Spurs Web' noted, "If Romero does not agree to a contract renewal before the end of the season, the plan is to put him on the market during the summer transfer window. If a multi-year contract seems difficult, the goal will be to maximize the transfer revenue," adding, "Tottenham expects a price of over £60 million (approximately 114.1 billion won) for Romero." However, the media projected that it is uncertain whether Real Madrid will accept this amount.
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