Cristian Romero has avoided a fine and retained the Tottenham captaincy despite taking a swipe at the club hierarchy in a social media post.
The Argentine defender shared a post after Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday, suggesting “other people” at the club should address its struggles, “but they don’t… they only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.” The final phrase was later removed, but the message was widely seen as a critique of Spurs’ leadership.
Romero met with manager Thomas Frank and sporting director Johan Lange on Thursday morning but faced no disciplinary action. Frank confirmed, “He is our captain, he’s not been fined,” adding that they chose to handle the matter internally through a conversation rather than punishment.
In his post, Romero apologized to fans and acknowledged the team’s responsibility, saying they would continue working hard to improve. He also criticized those above the team for staying silent during difficult times. Several teammates, including Pedro Porro and Richarlison, publicly supported the post.
This is not the first time Romero has been outspoken. Last season, he encouraged the club to spend like rivals Chelsea and Manchester City and criticized Spurs on social media for not arranging a private jet after international duty. He has also openly expressed a desire to play in Spain in the future.
Frank, who named Romero captain upon taking charge and convinced him to sign a new contract, praised his leadership both on and off the pitch, saying the defender spoke up during tough moments in games and handled himself well despite being a “young leader.”
Meanwhile, Spurs face a growing injury crisis ahead of their FA Cup tie against Aston Villa. Mohammed Kudus is out until April with a quad and tendon injury, Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a hamstring issue, Lucas Bergvall has a muscle problem, and Dejan Kulusevski continues his recovery from kneecap surgery, with Frank noting the focus is on removing pain before assessing his return.
