Cristian Romero took another swipe at Tottenham’s recruitment strategy as they closed the transfer window without enough reinforcements to satisfy their World Cup winning captain.
Spurs beat Arsenal to 18-year-old striker James Wilson from Heart of Midlothian on deadline day. Wilson will join on six-month loan with an option in the summer and spend the rest of the season with the Under-21 squad in north London.
Soon after the window closed at 7pm, however, Romero took to social media and with reference to Sunday’s fightback to draw 2-2 against Manchester City in the Premier League, a game in which he came off at half time feeling unwell, he said: ‘Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible.
‘I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available – unbelievable but true, and disgraceful.
‘We’ll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that’s left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans.’
Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke, Djed Spence, Conor Gallagher, Pape Matar Sarr and Kevin Danso were among those who ‘liked’ the new post by Romero.
Cristian Romero has taken a swipe at Tottenham’s January recruitment in a social media post
Romero called it ‘disgraceful’ that Spurs only had ’11 players’ available for the Man City match
Spurs this month have signed England international midfielder Gallagher signed for £35million from Atletico Madrid and teenage Brazilian left back Souza signed for £13m from Santos.
They have sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for £35m and, in January, lost a cluster of players to injuries, including most of the defence.
When Romero went off on Sunday against City, it left Thomas Frank without a dozen of his first team squad and a defence including midfielders Archie Gray and Joao Palhinha and centre half Radu Dragusin who made it through 90 minutes on his first start for more than a year out with a serious knee injury.
Romero and Micky van de Ven could return to face Manchester United on Saturday and Spence hopes to be back soon from a minor calf problem, but the others are not expected back for weeks.
Frank has explained the Spurs transfer strategy this month has been to hold their nerve and not be tempted into a short-term fix which goes against the long-term plans.
They were in the scramble for Antoine Semenyo who left Bournemouth for City for £65m and scored at Spurs on Sunday, and they were close to a deal for left back Andy Robertson, but Liverpool picked up injuries, too, and would not let him leave without a replacement.
Robertson will be a target again when his Anfield contract expires at the end of the season.
Romero, however, is clearly not satisfied by the explanation and it is the second time this year he has taken to social media to release his frustration.
The Argentine went off during the draw against City at half-time because he was feeling unwell
Having signed a new contract tying him to the club until 2029, when he was made captain in the summer, the Argentina international posted on social media after a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth in January.
‘At times like this, it should be other people coming out the speak, but they don’t – as has been happening for several years now,’ said Romero.
‘They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.’
He later deleted the bit about ‘lies’ but it was liked by teammates including Richarlison, Porro and Xavi Simons, and was widely interpreted as a dig at the board and their lack of ambition.
