Last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur advanced past Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round. One of the marquee players in the match was central defender Cristian Romero.
The 23-year-old played 77 minutes against The Seagulls, winning six of his eight duels, having five clearances, two interceptions, and four tackles. Meanwhile, in the passing game, Romero went 34 for 35, including four for five in his long passes on 53 touches.
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson spoke with Football Insider, where he had a rave review of the Argentine’s performance in the FA Cup match.
“His performance [against Brighton] proved that he’s the best center-half at the club,” Robinson said. “I think they probably tried to get one in during the window, but it didn’t work out. But in Romero, they have got a phenomenal defender. He makes others around him better.”
“What they have got isn’t enough. They need more, but he is certainly the best that they have got. He could play in any side in the top four of the Premier League. He is a Champions League player, a top player. If Spurs are going to go places, Romero is the type of player they will need to keep and build around.”
When Tottenham purchased Romero last summer from Atalanta, they envisioned a player that would anchor their backline. Against Brighton, the defender showed flashes of what he could be for the north London club.
After missing 21 games for Spurs, this season, including 18 due to a hamstring injury, the Premier League side hopes Romero’s injury battles are behind him, and he can finish strong these next few months.