Departing Romero says he wasn't perfect at Spurs

What the report says

Cristian Romero has acknowledged that he "wasn't perfect" during his five years at Tottenham Hotspur as he prepares to join Atletico Madrid. BBC Sport reports that Atletico have agreed to pay Spurs £34.2m for the Argentina centre-back, who arrived from Atalanta in 2021 and went on to make 156 appearances for the club.

In a message posted on X, Romero said he always gave his all for Tottenham and defended the shirt with pride. He also reflected on his aim of helping the club win a trophy, saying that ambition was fulfilled when Spurs beat Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final to end a 17-year wait for silverware.

The article also places his exit in the context of a difficult final stretch. Romero’s last match for Tottenham came against Sunderland in April, when he left the pitch with a knee injury that ruled him out for the final six Premier League games. He later drew criticism for initially planning to be in Argentina for Spurs’ last game of the season, before returning to attend the 1-0 win over Everton that secured their top-flight survival and a 17th-place finish for the second straight season.

As presented by BBC Sport, the move closes a significant chapter for both player and club, with Romero leaving after becoming a regular defender and part of Tottenham’s long-awaited return to success.