adminWelcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Roberto De Zerbi. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Well, don’t get too comfortable.
Sure, there have been glimpses of fight under the Italian—like pushing Brighton close and nearly snatching a win last Sunday—but honestly, his tenure as Spurs boss could hardly have started worse.
Within days of arriving, he was hit with the news that Mohammed Kudus would miss the rest of the season. Then, in his very first match, he had to sub off his captain, Cristian Romero.
Now Romero is also ruled out for the season, leaving the squad without yet another key player. Spurs’ injury luck this season has been nothing short of disastrous.
What’s next for Cristian Romero at Tottenham?
You can question Romero’s discipline, his social media antics, or his on-field attitude. But there’s no doubt he’s a fighter—a South American battler, exactly the kind of player you want when things get tough. For Spurs, this isn’t just another injury. Losing their captain in such circumstances is a bitter blow.
In the match against Sunderland, striker Brian Brobbey shoved Romero straight into Antonin Kinsky, and the defender stayed down. It was later confirmed he suffered a high-grade partial tear of his medial cruciate ligament. He left the pitch in tears, understandably so, with his World Cup hopes now also in doubt.
Speaking last weekend, De Zerbi said sympathetically: “First of all, Romero loves Tottenham. People need to know he’s suffering because of this injury—suffering because he can’t play for us again this season. He’s a great captain for us.”
Whether or not he truly loves Spurs, it’s very likely he’s played his last game for the club—especially if they’re relegated to the Championship.
If they stay up, their chances of keeping him obviously improve. But Romero has attracted serious interest before, not just from Real Madrid, but more recently Manchester United are rumored to be considering a move to keep him in England. For Spurs fans, that would be the worst-case scenario.
If Romero does leave, finding a new captain becomes essential.
How Spurs could replace Cristian Romero’s leadership
Honestly, Tottenham aren’t exactly overflowing with leadership options. Once James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski return (assuming they do), they’ll be looked upon to inspire the team on the pitch. Conor Gallagher might have been a candidate if his Spurs career had started better. Archie Gray could be a future captain.
The most obvious in-house replacement is fellow center-back Micky van de Ven. But what if Spurs dipped into the transfer market instead?
It might not be a like-for-like swap, but signing Andrew Robertson from Liverpool would certainly help fill the leadership void left by Romero’s potential departure.
Spurs looked at the Scottish left-back over the winter, but he stayed to see out his contract at Anfield. He’s confirmed he’ll leave on a free transfer this summer, and if Tottenham avoid relegation, they’re in pole position to land him.
Fabrizio Romano revealed over the weekend: “Robertson is set to join Tottenham if they stay up in the Premier League. According to my information, there is already an agreement on everything between Robertson and Tottenham.”
Exciting times on the transfer front—but at 32, what can the Scot offer Spurs? A Premier League and Champions League winner, he’d bring an elite mentality and a know-how that few in De Zerbi’s squad possess.
Sure, his powers may be waning as he enters the twilight of his career, but he’s been one of the most reliable players in English football for a very long time. José Mourinho himself called him an “incredible” player.
Only one defender in Premier League history has more assists (60) than Robertson—his former teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, with 64. Robertson boasts a lethal left foot, but it’s his leadership that truly makes him a standout signing.
The veteran is Scotland’s captain, a role he’s held since 2018, and he’s worn the armband over 49 times for his country—proof of just how influential he is.
Sure, Spurs will still need an out-and-out center-back to replace Romero. But they’ll also need someone capable of taking on the captaincy. And in that regard, Robertson might just be the perfect man.
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