Tottenham vice captain Cristian Romero recently expressed his desire to participate in the Olympic Games with Argentina this summer, a decision that might not sit well with manager Ange Postecoglou.
The centre-back is already expected to partake in the Copa America, scheduled to start at the end of June.
Romero has hinted at his availability for the Olympics as well, which starts on July 24th, just 10 days after the Copa America concludes. And the upcoming Premier League season is set to kick off just a week after the Olympics conclude, raising concerns about Romero’s availability for the Lilywhites at the beginning of the campaign.
This situation presents a significant challenge for the club.
Ange would prefer Romero to not participate in the Olympics
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was asked about Romero’s desire to play in the Olympics in his pre-match press conference.
Ange Postecoglou responded that given the demanding schedule and the importance of rest, he would prefer Romero to sit out of the Olympics.
The Australian manager emphasised the need for balance, indicating that while the club would consider the Argentine defender’s desire to compete, they would also prioritise his well-being and readiness for upcoming competitions, such as the Copa America and Spurs’ upcoming season.
He said (via Football London):
“Yeah, look with all those things, the Olympics is a little bit of a different issue because clubs aren’t obliged to release players. Certainly as a club we’ll make sure there is a balance there. My advice would be with the Copa America and hopefully us gearing up for a big season, rest would be the better policy.”
Romero aims to be one of Argentina’s three senior players in the Under-23 dominated football tournament at the Summer Olympics.
The 25-year-old vice-captain has proven himself a reliable figure for Tottenham his season, scoring four goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season while forming a formidable partnership with Micky van de Ven at the back.
And he will hope to have both his star defenders available right from the start of the next campaign.
