Cristian Romero, let’s face it, is not everyone’s concept of Captain Marvel.
Too reckless is one accusation in a season when he has collected two crimson playing cards and 11 yellows.
He has missed seven Tottenham video games by means of suspension and after his warning at Sunderland on Sunday was teetering on the cusp of one other two-match ban when his Premier League season skidded to a untimely finish.
Too stressed is one other as he flutters eyelashes as soon as extra within the hope of attracting the transfer to Spain he appears to yearn for, regardless of signing a profitable new contract in August.
Atletico Madrid are reported to have an interest. Simply as they have been final yr after they did not desk a bid and cooled on the thought earlier than Romero dedicated to Spurs till 2029.
Too rebellious is one other based mostly upon his behavior of taking goal on the membership through his social media posts, which have variously criticised the medical division or the switch coverage.
He even accused unnamed folks within the hierarchy of ‘lies’ however deleted that half.
Cristian Romero’s rollercoaster season is over after his harm setback at Sunderland
The Spurs captain has been labelled too stressed, too reckless and too rebellious
Since signing from Atalanta in 2021 there have been occasions when representing Argentina appeared to be extra vital to him than pulling on the colors of the London membership.
When Thomas Frank gave Romero the captain’s armband he was not spoiled for alternative and but for all that, this harm is a critical blow to Spurs and Roberto De Zerbi’s plans to maintain them up.
Romero is an especially good central defender, though even that isn’t the primary issue as a result of they’ve Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin match once more.
Neither Danso nor Dragusin would oust Romero from the again 4, in fact, however they’re strong, particularly if instructed to easily defend somewhat than attempt to go the ball out from the again.
There may very well be a case to make that Spurs could be defensively stronger with one in all these two beside Micky van de Ven within the coronary heart of the defence, somewhat than Romero on his battle costs when he sees match.
However it’s about what Romero symbolises to his teammates, and particularly youthful ones.
He has gained the World Cup as a part of Lionel Messi’s Argentina workforce. He’s a confirmed winner and only a few on this Spurs dressing room exude the braveness to compete as the person they name Cuti.
He has the fearless warrior mode required for the battle forward, which De Zerbi recognised when he swept in and made such a fuss of him.
However his Tottenham team-mates love and admire the Argentinian World Cup winner
‘Cuti is essential for us, essential for Tottenham,’ stated the Spurs boss, unequivocal in an interview with US broadcasters NBC, the primary interview with non-Spurs media after taking the job.
‘He’s the captain. He’s perhaps crucial participant in our squad. To attain our objective, we’d like one of the best of Romero.’
Then, 70 minutes into De Zerbi’s first sport, his skipper was gone, sobbing as he limped off having broken medial knee ligaments in a collision along with his personal goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
His World Cup dream should still flicker however he is not going to carry the Spurs commonplace into this survival combat.
He is not going to play once more this season and De Zerbi should discover one other battlefield chief amongst his beleaguered squad.
Good luck with that one as a result of the shortage of them is central to the plight they’re in.
