Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez recently identified Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero as one of the toughest defenders he has faced during his career.
In an interview with ESPN, Alvarez mentioned three defenders who have left a lasting impression on him: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Romero, and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez.
Alvarez, who transferred from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid this summer for a record fee worth up to €95 million, singled out van Dijk for his immense strength and defensive ability, calling him the toughest opponent.
The former Premier League star also acknowledged Romero’s aggressive and fearless approach, ranking him among the best defenders in the world. Alvarez commented:
“Van Dijk because he is very strong. He’s one of the best defenders in the world. I’ve also faced Cuti [Cristian] Romero and Licha [Lisandro] Martinez.
“Cuti because he’s very aggressive and one of the best centre-backs in the world now too. And Licha too. They are both very similar in their aggressive defending.”
The Argentine striker emphasised how Romero’s physicality and assertiveness make him an incredibly challenging opponent. This praise from Alvarez, who has competed against some of the best defenders across both the Premier League and La Liga, highlights Romero’s growing stature in world football.
Since joining Tottenham in 2021, Romero has become a key player for the club. His consistent and commanding performances in the backline earned him the vice-captaincy last season, underscoring his leadership qualities.
Last season, Romero made 33 Premier League appearances and scored five goals, the highest tally for a defender that season, further proving his value on both ends of the pitch. (Transfermarkt)
Tottenham sees Romero as a crucial part of their long-term plans, and his inclusion in Alvarez’s top defenders reinforces his world-class status and significance to Spurs’ ambitions moving forward.