Atletico Madrid have identified Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero as their number-one defensive target for the summer, with Diego Simeone reportedly keen on the Argentine as the man to anchor a major backline rebuild.
According to AS, via Tribuna, Simeone views Romero as the ideal profile to lead the next phase of Atletico’s defensive transition. The report also claims that Simeone and Romero have already spoken, with the defender said to have expressed a desire to make the move to Madrid.
The Numbers Don’t Quite Add Up Yet
Romero, who turns 27 this month and holds a contract at Spurs until 2027, is valued at €55m on Transfermarkt. Tottenham, according to English sources cited in the report, would demand around €80m – but Atletico are hoping to negotiate something closer to €40-50m. That is a gap wide enough to drive a bus through, and Spurs have little obvious incentive to do Atletico any favours.
Atletico’s interest is not purely opportunistic. The club face departures or renewal uncertainty across their backline, with Witsel and Azpilicueta expected to leave and doubts over Reinildo’s future. They are in the market for a centre-back, a left-back, and potentially a right-back. Romero is the name at the top of that list, not a fallback. His performances at international level have only reinforced why elite clubs keep circling.
A Familiar Problem for Spurs
The presence of fellow Argentines at the Wanda Metropolitano – De Paul, Correa, Molina, and Julian Alvarez – is flagged by AS as a factor that could smooth Romero’s integration, should a deal be reached. Atletico also have one non-EU slot available, which Romero, without an EU passport, would fill.
There is added urgency on Atletico’s side: the report notes they are keen to complete business in time for the FIFA Club World Cup, with a short registration window running from 1 to 10 June. That timeline is tight and would require Spurs to move far quicker than their valuation currently suggests they intend to.
Atletico are not the only club to have registered serious interest in Romero. Barcelona and Inter Milan have both been linked, and Inter previously tested Spurs’ resolve with a reported €40m approach. Bridging an €80m valuation and an opening position of €40-50m is the immediate obstacle – and Tottenham, for once, hold most of the cards.
