Cristian Romero: Defender to be at heart of Tottenham revolution after £42.5m update – pundit
Alex McLeish has tipped Cristian Romero to play a starring role in Antonio Conte’s Tottenham revolution over the coming years.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 23-year-old would become one of the manager’s trusted lieutenants in north London moving forward.
As quoted by the Daily Mail on Wednesday (9 February), Conte confirmed Spurs will turn Romero’s loan move permanent at the end of the season after agreeing an “obligation to buy” with Atalanta.
The Lilywhites will reportedly pay £42.5million for his capture.
Conte insisted Romero is “perfect” for the Premier League and that he is “like a new signing” after returning from injury.
McLeish suggested the Argentina international could be a core part of the manager’s plans moving forward.
McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s about a manager’s knowledge. Conte will want to surround himself with players he feels he can trust to get him to the level where it’s possible to go.
“For a long time, they have struggled to get to those exalted cup finals, league titles and the Champions League.
“Pochettino came for a while and turned it a wee bit for them. He gave them a glimpse of what might be the future.
“It’s kind of petered out. Can Conte do what he did at Chelsea, what he did at Inter Milan? If he can do that, then there will be a Conte statue in every street in Tottenham.”
Romero has played 15 times for Spurs since joining on loan last summer.
He made his first Premier League appearance since November in Wednesday’s defeat to Southampton.
In other news, Tottenham tipped to launch raid for Juventus star in summer after source’s reveal.