Barcelona are closely monitoring Cristian Romero but must offload defenders first

Tottenham coach De Zerbi has hinted that Cristian Romero could leave, with Barcelona closely monitoring his situation.

Cristian Romero remains one of the focal points of this summer's transfer market. The future of the Argentine center-back remains open, and he is awaiting developments, while Barcelona have consistently maintained a high level of interest. However, any move depends on a defender leaving Barcelona first.

Meanwhile, Tottenham is beginning to realize that the Argentine international’s Premier League career may be nearing its end. Coach De Zerbi’s statement reflects the current situation and further intensifies the possibility of a summer departure.

The Italian coach first emphasized Cristian Romero's professionalism since joining Tottenham: "Cristian Romero has performed exceptionally well under me, at the highest level, both in his behavior and respect."

De Zerbi also denied rumors that Cristian Romero wanted to leave early and return to Argentina to prepare for the World Cup: "It's not true that he went back to Argentina early to prepare for the World Cup."

However, when asked directly about Cristian Romero's future, De Zerbi's most telling remark was: "After the semi-final with England, we exchanged some messages, but I never called to persuade him to stay. I respect what he told me."

This statement suggests that Tottenham do not intend to force a player who has expressed a desire to leave to stay.

Barcelona are still closely monitoring the Argentine international's future. Deco has always considered Cristian Romero one of the most favored defensive reinforcements, but any move still depends on a defender leaving Barcelona first, thereby freeing up salary space.

Meanwhile, teams like Atlético Madrid and Inter have also shown interest in the Tottenham defender, meaning Barcelona are not alone in the race for the Argentine. De Zerbi's words further reinforce the perception that Cristian Romero's Tottenham career may be nearing its end, but his ultimate destination remains completely open.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details, and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com