Argentina's Romero confirms Tottenham exit as Atletico move looms

Tottenham defender Cristian Romero looks set to move to Atletico Madrid (HENRY NICHOLLS) Cristian Romero announced Friday he was leaving Tottenham, with reports suggesting he will be joining Atletico Madrid in a 40 million euros (£34.1 million) deal. Argentina international Romero was a controversial figure during his five years in north London, incurring several suspensions during 156 appearances for Spurs, where he was also captain. But he was named man-of-the-match for a fine display during the 2025 Europa League final win over Manchester United which ended Tottenham's 17-year wait for a major trophy.   "Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club," Romero said on Instagram. The 28-year-old added: “It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives. "I leave with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together. "When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club's history. I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it. "The journey wasn't perfect, but I don't want that to define my goodbye. I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years." jdg/gj