Romero posts farewell message to Tottenham followers as Atletico Madrid switch looms

Cristian Romero has bid an emotional farewell to Tottenham after admitting he was “not excellent” throughout his 5 years in North London.

The Argentina worldwide is closing in on a transfer to Atletico Madrid after the Spanish membership agreed a deal price £34.2m for the centre-back.

Romero has not performed for Spurs since struggling a knee damage towards Sunderland in April. The defender was visibly emotional as he left the pitch, with the damage ruling him out for the ultimate six Premier League matches of the marketing campaign.

His absence got here throughout Tottenham’s battle towards relegation, and he additionally drew criticism from some supporters after initially planning to return to Argentina for Belgrano’s Primera Division Apertura remaining earlier than Spurs’ decisive final recreation of the season.

Romero in the end stayed in England and was current at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs secured Premier League survival with a 1-0 victory over Everton, ending seventeenth for the second consecutive 12 months.

In a farewell message posted on social media, Romero mirrored on his time on the membership.

“I do know I wasn’t excellent,” he wrote.

“However I can go away understanding I at all times gave every little thing. I wore this shirt with pleasure and fought for it with all my coronary heart.”

“Once I arrived, I had one aim: to depart my mark on this membership,” Romero added.

“I knew that would solely occur by means of onerous work, sacrifice and by reaching one thing individuals had been ready for for a very long time – successful a trophy. Collectively, we managed to try this.

“I’m leaving Tottenham, however part of me will at all times keep right here. I got here right here as a participant and I’m leaving feeling like certainly one of you.

“Thanks for every little thing.”

Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and established himself as one of many membership’s key defenders, making 156 appearances throughout all competitions.

The spotlight of his spell got here in 2025 when he helped Spurs finish their 17-year anticipate silverware by beating Manchester United within the Europa League remaining.