Cristian Romero Unleashes Scathing Attack on Tottenham's Leadership, Calls Them 'Disgraceful'
Tottenham Hotspur skipper Cristian Romero issued yet another public and harsh criticism of his club's leadership by condemning the "incredible" and "shameful" shortage of squad depth available to Thomas Frank.
Romero has a history of speaking out. The Argentine defender seemed to provoke Tottenham's decision-makers earlier this season following a January loss to Bournemouth.
"In moments like these, it should be others stepping forward to speak, but they don't—as has been the case for years now," he posted on Instagram. "They only appear when things are going well, to share some falsehoods."
The message was later modified to delete the final five words. There has been no indication of regret this time around.
After being unavailable for Sunday's thrilling 2–2 tie with Manchester City, Romero turned to social media to communicate with supporters.
"Outstanding effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were amazing," he posted. "I wished to be available to assist them despite not feeling well, particularly since we only had 11 players ready—incredible but factual and shameful.
"We'll continue showing up and accepting responsibility to reverse this situation, working diligently and remaining united. All that remains is to appreciate all of you for being present and for consistently supporting us, the supporters."
What Is Behind Romero's Frustrations?
What Drives Romero's Discontent?
It was significant that Romero's message—which remains unedited at publication time—appeared within an hour of the transfer window closing. Despite extensive rumors, Spurs failed to complete any eleventh-hour deals beyond securing Scottish teenager James Wilson, who will feature for the U21 squad.
Romero's reference to limited manpower is a concern that Thomas Frank has been voicing for weeks. The struggling Danish manager stated that he was missing 14 senior outfield players for the Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt last week. Spurs still managed to secure victory, rising to an impressive fourth position in the final league phase standings.
Domestic performances have been more challenging to achieve. Sunday's tie with City provided welcome relief, but it still positions the club in a disappointing 14th place, 11 points behind the top five and merely nine above the drop zone.
Conor Gallagher and Brazilian left-back Souza were acquired for a total fee of €55 million (£47.4 million, $65 million) during the January transfer period, though a move for veteran Andy Robertson collapsed. That expenditure still represents the fourth-highest spending by any Premier League side this season, and significantly more than most European clubs received.
Indeed, since the beginning of the 2023–24 campaign, Spurs have accumulated a net expenditure of €463.6 million, a massive sum that only Arsenal and Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal can exceed globally. Yet, they've somehow ended up with just 11 available players.
Fortune and injuries have certainly contributed but there may be other individuals within the organization beyond Romero wondering about this result.