Barcelona and Hansi Flick make Cristian Romero transfer decision | OneFootball

Now that Ronald Araujo has joined Liverpool on loan, Barcelona are able to pursue the signing of a new central defender. The club had made it clear that move would not be made until someone left, and with the door now open, they have started to consider targets – with one of them Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina’s Cristian Romero.

Over the last 12-18 months, Romero is a player that has regularly been linked with Barcelona. The 28-year-old has admirers within Can Barca, while he himself is also said to be very interested in a move to the Spotify Camp Nou.

An experienced centre-back signing makes sense for Barcelona given their defensive woes in the Champions League last season, but the player that arrives – if any – will not be Romero. As per Fabrizio Romano, both the club and head coach Hansi Flick have decided that the Spurs man will not be sought this summer.

Barcelona snub opens door for Atletico Madrid move

As was the case with Alessandro Bastoni earlier in the summer, Flick is the one that has decided that a move for Romero is not necessary, given that he has concerns about his suitability for his system. That decision is good news for Atletico Madrid, as they are now firm favourites to complete a deal – and if they do, it could give them ammunition to convince Julian Alvarez to reject a move to Catalonia, given that the two international teammates are close.

It is somewhat of a surprise that Barcelona and Flick do not want to sign Romero, given that his leadership profile is exactly what they need. Furthermore, he would be much more suited to La Liga compared to the Premier League, but clearly, this is not enough for him to be considered an appropriate signing for the Catalan club.