Tottenham boss on Romero’s future: “There’s a line you can’t cross” | OneFootball

The future of Cristian Romero at Tottenham has become uncertain amid rumors of a transfer in the middle of the year. Statements from coach Thomas Frank, who avoided guaranteeing the defender’s stay for the next season, have also fueled doubts. Although the Argentine still wears the captain’s armband and recently signed a contract extension, internal tensions could open the door for his departure.

“Right now he is the captain, he has a long contract and signed a renewal. Although I have no idea if he will stay next season,” said the Danish coach at a press conference ahead of the clash against Manchester United. His words came after public criticism of Cuti for harshly questioning the club’s sporting policy following the 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

The former Atalanta player, who extended his contract last European summer and was chosen as one of the squad’s leaders, sparked controversy by posting a harsh message on his social media. In his post, he described it as “incredible, but true and shameful” that the team only had 11 first-team players available to face Josep Guardiola’s side after the close of the winter transfer window.

“Great effort from all my teammates, they were incredible. I wanted to be available to help them even without feeling well, especially because we only had 11 players available,” wrote the Cordoba native, who left the field at halftime due to physical discomfort. The tension with the management is not new: in January, he had already taken aim at some directors, accusing them of showing up “only when things are going well,” although he later retracted.

At the start of 2026, the Spurs were hit by a series of injuries affecting nine players. Additionally, they parted ways with Brennan Johnson, who was sold to Crystal Palace, and only brought in Conor Gallagher from Atlético de Madrid and the young Brazilian Souza, 19, from Santos.

The transfer window ended with one more loan: Scottish striker James Wilson, 18, who arrived from Hearts to strengthen the under-21 team. The lack of squad depth has caused discontent within the club, and Romero was not the only one to speak out.

Asked about a possible sanction for the Argentine defender, Frank avoided specifics and said the matter was “handled internally.” Nevertheless, he hinted at his stance with a forceful phrase: “There is always a line you can’t cross, or can’t cross too many times,” he said, though he emphasized his intention to focus on football matters.

Currently, Tottenham sits in 14th place in the Premier League, nine points clear of relegation. In this context, Romero remains a key figure, although his future beyond June seems increasingly uncertain.

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