Tottenham’s injured captain Cristian Romero has flown back to Argentina before the final day of the Premier League season, choosing to watch his boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in a league playoff final while his club fights to stay up.
The 28-year-old has not played since injuring a knee against Sunderland last month, and Tottenham go into Sunday’s match at Everton needing a point for safety. A win would guarantee they avoid relegation for the first time since 1977, while a draw would almost certainly be enough because their goal difference is 12 better than third-bottom West Ham’s.
Roberto De Zerbi said Romero spoke with the medical staff and they decided he would go to Argentina to complete rehab with Argentinian medical staff. He added that the defender cannot alter the result at home to Everton even if he stays in the stadium, saying the decision was made with the medical team and that Romero can change nothing if he is there or not.
De Zerbi also pushed back at criticism of the move, saying he was not stupid and would not treat a player the same way if he thought about himself before the club. Glenn Hoddle, though, said the trip “sums his selfishness up,” turning a medical decision into a public test of loyalty at the worst possible moment for Tottenham.
There is still no mystery about the football that follows. Dominic Solanke is expected to be available after injuring a hamstring in the victory over Wolves in April, and Djed Spence will wear a protective mask after sustaining a broken jaw against Chelsea. Ben Davies has asked to stay with the squad and work with them on the final day, a small but pointed contrast to Romero’s departure.
Friday marked a year since Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao to win their first trophy since 2008, a reminder of how quickly the mood can swing from celebration to survival. De Zerbi told the squad they must play “with blood, with character, with spirit, because it’s a final,” and Sunday will test whether Tottenham can turn that into a result when it matters most.
