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Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has been criticized after choosing to return to Argentina rather than support his teammates during their final Premier League relegation match against Everton.
The injured defender returns home to watch his boyhood club Belgrano in a historic decider against River Plate on Sunday instead of sitting in the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Romero prioritizes Boyhood Club over Spurs survival
The centre-back has been out of action since injuring his knee in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last month, a match which marked Roberto De Zerbi’s debut in the Spurs dugout.
Although the defender cannot physically take the field, his leadership role has been called into question due to his impending absence from north London in a relegation decision.
Despite his injury, Romero had already been visible on the touchline, even joining in the celebrations when Mathys Tel scored a vital goal against Leeds United earlier this month.
However, the 28-year-old has now chosen to return to his homeland to watch Belgrano take on River Plate in a historic Argentine league championship final.
The timing is particularly sensitive as Tottenham face the very real threat of being relegated to the second tier of English football on the same afternoon.
“Good club captain, then!” »
The defender’s choice was confirmed by South American football expert Tim Vickery during an appearance on talkSPORT, prompting an immediate and fierce reaction from host and Spurs fan Paul Hawksbee.
The broadcaster was clinical in his assessment of the Tottenham captain, suggesting the player’s priorities were far from survival in the Premier League.
Explaining his stance, Hawksbee said: “Good club captain, then. Not in Tottenham’s biggest game since 1976 – fantastic. Loyal to the end, good old Cristian. I’ll be wearing my River Plate shirt this weekend. I think it’s terrible.
“He’s going to watch over the club he supports, unlike the captain of a relegation-threatened team, where he’s not there with the guys and all the other injured players. But you know, I mean, like I said, it’s true in the end; I always thought Cristian Romero was just passing through and Tottenham was a distraction for Argentina. But I’m quite bitter.”
The historical importance of Belgrano against River Plate
Vickery attempted to provide context as to why the match in Argentina holds such personal weight for Romero.
The World Cup winner began his career at Belgrano, joining the youth ranks in 2014 before making his senior debut two years later.
For Romero, it’s not just a side interest but a connection to his roots at a time that could define the history of his former club.
Vickery highlighted the seriousness of the match in South America, saying: “I knew it would make you angry. Belgrano is Romero’s club. It’s the club where he started and he’s a fan. Belgrano has never won the Argentine championship, and they’re going to River Plate, who have won more than anyone, so it’s historic.
“15 years ago these two met in the playoffs that relegated River Plate, and if Tottenham’s fall is off the scale, River Plate’s fall is even more off the scale.”
Spurs fight for survival
De Zerbi hopes to guide Spurs to Premier League survival.
Since his appointment, the Italian coach has overseen six matches, recording two wins, two draws and two defeats as he attempts to steer the north London side away from the danger of relegation.
Tottenham’s fate remains in the balance heading into the final round of the season.
A defeat at Everton, combined with a West Ham United victory over Leeds United would see Spurs relegated to the Championship.
However, a victory over Everton would secure Tottenham’s Premier League status. Even a draw will be enough for Spurs to survive, given their significantly better goal difference than West Ham (-10 to -22).
FIFA World Cup 2026: how to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34), with each game streaming live and on demand on FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, along with the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
