Cristian Romero will not appear in the last and most fateful game of the season against Everton. Instead, he travels home to watch his childhood club Belgrano play the final of the Argentine championship.
And the reactions are not long in coming.
Read: Real Madrid chase Premier League star – taking advantage of the “chaos” at Manchester City
– Good club captain, that is
Romero has been out since April after a knee injury, but has otherwise been seen in the stands as Tottenham fight for survival in the Premier League. Earlier this month, he took part in the celebrations when Mathys Tel scored against Leeds – and even took out a member of the coaching staff when he moved to the sidelines.
But when Spurs need him most – in the most important game of the year – he leaves.
On Sunday afternoon, he is not in North London. He is in Argentina to watch Belgrano face River Plate in what for him is a personal final.
“Belgrano has never won the Argentine championship,” football pundit Tim Vickery told talkSPORT. “Romero is a fan. This is historic.
“A terrible decision”
TalkSPORT presenter Paul Hawksbee is merciless:
“Great club captain, yes. Dropping Tottenham’s most important game since 1976 – fantastic. True to the end, good old Cristian.
Hawksbee continued:
“He goes to see the club he is rooting for, instead of being with his teammates when the team is fighting against relegation. I’ve always felt that Romero was just passing through at Tottenham – that Spurs were just a distraction from Argentina.
Read: 180º turnaround for Ferran Torres in Barcelona
Fans explode: “Unthinkable”
On social media, Romero is reviewed.
“The captain of Tottenham Hotspur chooses to personally miss the club’s most important league game in modern history. He should never be allowed to wear the Spurs shirt again,” writes one furious supporter.
Another writes:
“I have defended Romero all these years. But if this is true, he will not be allowed to enter Hotspur Way again when the season is over.
Other comments:
” Completely shameful.
” Poor thing, Cuti. Really bad.
” I will always be grateful for what he did in Bilbao last year, but from here I see no way back.
Tottenham’s nightmare season could be complete
Tottenham have never been relegated from the Premier League since the league started 34 years ago. Right now, the team is two points ahead of third-last place – and West Ham are chasing.
“This is the lowest point in the club’s history,” writes one fan. “Then you would think that the captain was a symbol of everyone, always. Instead, he goes home to watch an Argentine final.
Nothing is decided until Sunday. But one thing is certain: Romero has chosen not to play the most important moment in the lives of many Spurs supporters.
