Cristian Romero, the outspoken captain of Tottenham Hotspur, has once again taken to social media to voice his frustrations, this time labelling the club's squad depth as "disgraceful" in a pointed critique of their January transfer strategy.
Romero's Fiery Instagram Post Highlights Squad Crisis
Following the closure of the mid-season transfer window, Romero did not hold back in an Instagram post on Monday evening. He praised his teammates for their "great effort" in the recent 2-2 draw against Manchester City but underscored the dire situation by stating, "we had only 11 players available – unbelievable but true and disgraceful." This comment came after Spurs made just two signings: Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid for £34.6 million and the young left-back Souza from Santos for £13 million, while selling Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35 million.
Injury Woes and Managerial Challenges
Manager Thomas Frank has been grappling with a severe injury crisis, leaving him with a depleted squad. For the Manchester City match, he was without 11 players, and Romero himself played despite feeling ill before being substituted at half-time. The team's comeback, fueled by two goals from Dominic Solanke, did little to mask the underlying issues. Romero's post received likes from several teammates, including Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, and Gallagher, indicating shared concerns within the dressing room.
History of Controversial Social Media Activity
This is not the first time Romero has used social media to air grievances. After a 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in early January, he posted, "At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don’t – as has been happening for several years now," later deleting a reference to "lies." His past controversies include complaints about club spending, thanks to Argentina medics over Spurs physios, and expressions of desire to play in La Liga, all of which have stirred debate.
From Exit Rumours to Captaincy
Last summer, Romero appeared set to leave Tottenham amid interest from Atlético Madrid, following a season marred by controversial statements. However, in a surprising turn, he signed a new contract and was appointed captain, succeeding Son Heung-min. Manager Frank has defended Romero, noting no fines were issued but emphasising the importance of keeping discussions internal, stating, "when you’re a young leader sometimes you make mistakes."
In his latest post, Romero added a note of resilience, writing, "We’ll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together." As Tottenham navigate these challenges, Frank is likely to face further questions about his captain's public outbursts in upcoming press conferences.
