Cristian Romero has completed his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid, bringing an end to his five-year spell with the Premier League club.
Tottenham will receive £34 million for the Argentina international, who made 124 appearances for Spurs and captained the team to their first major trophy in 17 years.
Romero had already announced his departure from Tottenham on Friday before Atletico officially confirmed the transfer. The 28-year-old had been linked with a move away from north London throughout the summer, with Atletico among his long-term admirers.
Inter Milan and Arsenal were also reported to have shown interest, but Romero was understood to favour a move to the Spanish club.
The defender endured a difficult final season at Tottenham, receiving two red cards during the club’s Premier League relegation battle. He also missed the closing stages of the campaign after suffering a knee injury.
Romero also faced criticism from some supporters after reports suggested he could attend his boyhood club Belgrano’s match against River Plate in the Argentine Primera Division Apertura final instead of Tottenham’s crucial final game against Everton. He ultimately attended the Spurs fixture.
In an emotional farewell message on Instagram, Romero reflected on his time at Tottenham and said he was proud to have captained the club to their long-awaited trophy.
“Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club. It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives,” he wrote.
Romero said he leaves Tottenham with “enormous pride” and thanked the club’s coaches, teammates, staff and supporters for their contribution to his career.
The Argentina defender will now begin a new chapter with Atletico Madrid as he looks to establish himself as a key figure in Diego Simeone’s defence.
