Barcelona remains a target for Cristian Romero despite Inter Milan offer
Romero’s Barcelona preference
Cristian Romero, the Tottenham Hotspur defender, has reportedly put his potential move to Inter Milan on hold, indicating a strong preference for a transfer to Barcelona. Despite Inter Milan’s concrete offer, Romero is holding out for a final push from the Catalan club to secure his signature.
Romero’s representatives have maintained communication with Barcelona’s sporting management, believing that a late deal could still be possible to reinforce the team’s defensive line before the transfer window closes. The Argentine international is on Barcelona’s list of potential targets.
However, Barcelona has communicated to Romero that they will not pursue his transfer unless one of their current defenders or full-backs departs first. This condition highlights the club’s strategy to manage its squad and financial fair play regulations.
Inter Milan’s offer and Tottenham’s stance
According to reports, Inter Milan met with Romero’s agent and presented a four-season contract offer. The proposed salary was slightly less than what Romero currently earns at Tottenham, but it included additional years on the contract. Despite this offer, talks stalled on the player’s side, and no agreement was reached regarding the transfer fee.
Tottenham is reportedly demanding 50 million euros for Romero, though they are said to be open to negotiations. The English club is prepared to let the Argentina international leave. The possibility of a loan deal with an option to buy has also emerged, particularly if Romero continues to push for an exit.
With Romero’s hesitation, Inter Milan has reportedly moved to agree terms with John Stones, a defender from Manchester City whose contract is nearing its end. This development sends a clear message that Inter Milan would only sign Romero now if they manage to sell Pavard during the current transfer window.
Romero’s desire to wait for Barcelona became apparent after Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, showed interest in signing him. This has led to a pause in negotiations with other clubs.
Barcelona’s defensive strategy and financial considerations
Barcelona is considering two main approaches to reshape its backline. The first involves signing a top-class defender if a current defender or full-back, such as Araujo or Kounde, leaves the club. The second approach is to pursue a younger player with potential for growth, ideally a left-footed defender.
The Salinas deal also remains an option for Barcelona, but the club is unwilling to meet Racing’s asking price of 16 million euros. Romero is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to facilitate his registration with Barcelona, which could play into the Catalan club’s favour as Tottenham needs to offload players.
Despite Barcelona’s appreciation for Romero’s abilities, his high salary is a significant concern. The Argentine international’s current wages would reportedly not align with Barcelona’s existing wage structure, potentially creating complications with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations. Therefore, a move for Romero to Barcelona currently appears unlikely.
Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s manager, is expected to rely on Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin as his primary centre-back pairing. Eric Garcia will also be available, and Andreas Christensen is highly regarded by the manager, having played a significant role in his contract renewal. Ronald Araujo has no plans to leave the club despite increased competition for places within the squad. Alvaro Cortes, who debuted last season, is also an option for the manager. Romero is due to report for training with the London side from 10 August.
Source: goal.com
