Inter Refuse to Give Up on Cristian Romero as Atletico Madrid Threaten to Hijack Spurs Captain Deal
Inter Milan may be falling behind Atletico Madrid in the race for Cristian Romero, but the Serie A giants are reportedly refusing to throw in the towel. With the Tottenham Hotspur captain becoming one of the most wanted defenders on the transfer market, Inter are now pulling out some of their biggest names in an attempt to convince the Argentine to return to Italy.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti and captain Lautaro Martinez are personally trying to persuade Romero that his future should be at the Giuseppe Meazza. Their involvement could become crucial as Inter attempt to overturn Atletico Madrid’s current advantage in the increasingly dramatic transfer battle.
Romero has reportedly emerged as one of Inter’s major defensive priorities as the Italian giants reshape their backline. The Nerazzurri are facing a significant shortage of experienced defenders after Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian departed on free transfers.
The situation could become even more serious if Alessandro Bastoni also leaves.
That has placed additional pressure on Inter to strengthen at centre-back, and Romero is believed to be viewed as the ideal solution. His aggressive style, physical strength, leadership and experience in Serie A make him an extremely attractive option for Inter as they look to build a defence capable of competing on multiple fronts.
Inter have already brought in John Stones as a free agent following the expiration of his Manchester City contract, but his arrival alone is unlikely to solve their defensive problems. Beppe Marotta therefore remains determined to add another elite centre-back to Cristian Chivu’s squad.
And Romero appears to be right at the top of the list.
However, getting the deal over the line is proving to be anything but straightforward.
Atletico Madrid have reportedly moved aggressively for the Tottenham captain, with Diego Simeone said to have identified Romero as his priority defensive target. Even more concerning for Inter is the claim that Atletico’s negotiations with Tottenham have already reached an ‘advanced stage’.
That means Inter could be racing against the clock.
Despite Atletico’s apparent advantage, the Nerazzurri are reportedly preparing one final push. Zanetti’s influence could be particularly important given his legendary status at Inter and his knowledge of what it takes to convince top players to choose the club.
Then there is Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentine striker already shares the dressing room with Romero at international level, giving him a unique relationship with the Tottenham defender. Martinez could potentially use that connection to make Inter’s project even more appealing.
The message from Inter is seemingly clear: the door is not closed.
Romero knows Serie A extremely well, having previously played for Atalanta and Juventus before establishing himself as one of Tottenham’s most important players following his move to North London in 2021.
Since then, the 28-year-old has developed into one of the Premier League’s most respected defenders. His performances, aggressive defending and leadership qualities have made him a key figure at Spurs, while his status as Argentina international only adds to his appeal.
Inter reportedly believe Romero could immediately strengthen their defence and potentially provide a significant upgrade in certain areas.
But Atletico Madrid are not expected to simply step aside.
Simeone reportedly sees Romero as the perfect defender for his style of football, and Atletico’s willingness to push forward with negotiations could ultimately give them the advantage. The Spanish club are believed to be determined to secure the Argentine before Inter can make a successful comeback.
For Tottenham, meanwhile, the situation could become one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.
Romero’s future is attracting attention from two major European clubs, and with both Inter and Atletico reportedly fighting hard for his signature, the pressure surrounding Spurs’ captain is rapidly increasing.
Will Romero return to Italy and reunite with Inter’s Argentine contingent, or will Simeone finally get his man in Madrid?
With Atletico reportedly ahead and Inter refusing to surrender, this transfer battle could be heading towards a dramatic conclusion.
