Cuti Romero was in talks with Inter, then Atlético answered Simeone's wish | OneFootball

Just when everything seemed to be on track for Cristian Romero to return to Italian football, Atlético de Madrid stepped into the negotiations. The Colchoneros want to secure the services of the Argentine defender and would be willing to submit several offers to prevent his return to Serie A and convince him to move to LaLiga.

In recent days, it emerged that Inter Milan reached an agreement with Tottenham to acquire 100% of the World Cup winner’s rights for a fee close to €40 million. However, the deal is not yet completely finalized because the player and his representative have still not reached a contractual agreement. The main sticking point is the center-back’s wage demands, as he is seeking to earn around six million euros per season. That delay opened a door that Atlético does not want to let slip away.

The Madrid club’s interest is nothing new. Cuti Romero is a specific request from Diego Simeone, who had already tried to sign him in the previous transfer window. At that time, Tottenham were asking for around €60 million, a figure that exceeded the Spanish club’s budget and ultimately ruled out any chance of an agreement.

Now the situation has changed. The Córdoba-born defender’s market value has dropped, and the London club has also lowered its financial demands. In addition, the recent signing of Dutchman Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for 60 million euros has changed the picture. The defender plays in the same position as Romero, and his arrival has made the Spurs more open to negotiating the Argentine’s departure.

Given this opportunity, Atlético de Madrid are preparing an opening offer worth between 30 and 35 million euros for the defender’s transfer. Although that figure is still below the bid accepted from Inter, Simeone’s side have one factor that could tip the balance.

According to Spanish media, Atlético’s main ally is Cuti Romero himself. The defender dreams of playing in the Spanish league and would be very keen on the chance to play under Cholo, one of the most influential Argentine coaches in the world. In addition, the Madrid club could include a player in the deal.

Even so, time is on Inter’s side. The Italian club are ahead in talks with Tottenham and already have the agreement between the clubs well advanced. The major obstacle remains the player’s contract, which is the stage where Atlético hopes to step in decisively and try to change the course of negotiations that until just a few days ago seemed settled.

Meanwhile, Cuti Romero’s future remains open. Inter is still the most advanced destination, but Atlético de Madrid have renewed their push and have no intention of dropping out of the race for one of the most sought-after Argentine defenders on the European market.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.