Richarlison and Xavi Simons send messages as Tottenham exit confirmed

Richarlison and Xavi Simons have sent messages of support after Cristian Romero left Tottenham Hotspur for Atletico Madrid.

The 28-year-old has joined the La Liga club in a £34million deal, after it had become clear that he would not be a part of Roberto De Zerbi's squad.

The Lilywhites have added both Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi to the squad this summer, and have secured Micky van de Ven down to a new long-term contract.

Romero's Tottenham career was ultimately one of frustration, and the way it has ended has left many fans with a sour taste in their mouths.

North London rivals Arsenal reportedly held exploratory talks over a move for the Argentina international, who was said to have been more than open to the switch.

Tottenham ultimately ruled out any sale to the Premier League champions, but Romero's willingness to emulate Sol Campbell left many happy to see the back of him.

Richarlison and Xavi Simons send Cristian Romero messages

Romero joined Tottenham permanently from Atalanta in 2022, signing in a deal worth in the region of £42.5m after he had spent an initial season on loan.

The defender had spent much of that first campaign on the injury table, but his assets were clear from the get go.

The Argentine was incredibly aggressive and very effective at winning the ball, often getting the crowd off their feet with big tackles and huge blocks.

But Romero was not just a body - he was excellent on the ball and able to build Tottenham attacks from the ground up.

In recent years, however, a lot of those strong qualities have been replaced by needlessly dangerous challenges and careless defending.

Romero's time to leave may have been last summer, but his exit has finally brought a chapter to an end. "Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever," he wrote on Instagram after his exit was confirmed.

"Good luck bro," wrote Richarlison, while Simons commented: "Mi capitan".

Will Tottenham improve without Romero?

For all of his negative traits, Romero is a great player. He has shown that time and time again for Argentina, even if he no longer did for Tottenham.

The 28-year-old had the ability to massively impact games at both ends of the pitch, taking it by the scruff of the neck on occasion.

But the red cards and the mistakes were stacking up to a dangerous level. Romero's completely needless dismissal at Old Trafford in February saw Tottenham lose that game and the four more he was suspended for - it could have sent them down.

Tottenham may lose some quality without Romero and there will be times that they miss him, but they are a better team with 11 players on the pitch.