Atlético open to €70m package in pursuit of key Tottenham figure | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid Push to Land Tottenham Defender in Big-Money Move

Simeone’s priority target

Atlético Madrid have intensified efforts to sign Tottenham’s defender Cristian Romero, with the Spanish club prepared to go to great financial lengths to secure the Argentina international. According to AS, manager Diego Simeone has made Romero his number one defensive target, and the board are ready to act decisively.

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“Romero is a request from Cholo and Atlético will do almost whatever it takes to see him in red and white,” the report states.

President Enrique Cerezo and CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín are aligned with Simeone’s ambition, and initial contact with Tottenham has already been made.

Financial details of proposed deal

The Madrid-based club are willing to offer €55 million up front, with an additional €15 million in variables. That total package, worth up to €70 million, matches Spurs’ asking price for the 27-year-old, who is under contract until 2027.

Atlético are aware that this level of signing requires patience and precision. Talks have been ongoing for some time, and sources suggest movement could accelerate this week. As AS reports, “the potential signing will continue to simmer, and this week could bring significant progress”.

Player and club aligned

Romero is said to be fully on board with the move. Conversations between the player and Simeone date back to the winter window, with the defender open to joining Atlético’s next project. The dressing room reportedly views him as a seasoned addition, while Simeone sees him as central to his tactical rebuild.

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“The Argentine is enthusiastic. He knows he would arrive with everyone’s backing, from the coaching staff to a dressing room that already sees him as a proven performer,” AS adds.

Romero key to Atlético’s rebuild

Cristian Romero is seen as the “cornerstone of Atlético’s new project”, one that will build on the defensive traditions synonymous with Simeone’s tenure. The club regard him as a more important acquisition than other reported targets such as Ruggeri, Baena or Cardoso.

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This development will set alarm bells ringing at Spurs. Romero has been one of the few constants in a backline that has undergone continual reshaping in recent years. His leadership, aggression and ability to play out from the back are invaluable, especially under a system still seeking defensive stability.

The timing also feels precarious. With Ange Postecoglou gone and Thomas Frank taking the reins, losing such a vital piece just as the new manager starts could be a major setback. Fans will be particularly concerned that Atlético are reportedly willing to meet the club’s valuation, which would remove a major barrier to a deal.

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If Romero is indeed open to the move and Spurs choose to cash in, it would raise serious questions about the club’s long-term planning. Letting go of a defender who embodies passion and resilience, in exchange for financial flexibility, might make business sense but could damage on-pitch progress.

In short, this is more than a transfer story. It’s a test of ambition, direction and commitment to stability.