Cristian Romero is on course to leave Tottenham Hotspur after the club reached an agreement in principle with Atletico Madrid for the sale of their captain. The move signals a major change for the North London club as they get ready to part with one of their most influential, yet divisive, defenders.

Atletico Madrid have finally secured a long-standing defensive target. According to Sky Sports, Diego Simeone has got his man after Atletico agreed a deal in principle with Tottenham to sign Romero. The package for the Argentina international is believed to be worth around £34.2 million, along with further performance-related add-ons. Spurs have also safeguarded their future interest by inserting a 15 per cent sell-on clause into the final transfer terms.

The Spanish club have admired the Argentina centre-back for a long time, and during the transfer window it had become increasingly evident that Spurs were willing to sell their captain if the right offer arrived. Romero first joined the North London side on a season-long loan from Atalanta in the summer of 2021, before Tottenham made the move permanent the following year.

Romero had always prioritised a switch to Atletico Madrid, even though he had drawn serious interest from leading clubs around Europe. Inter Milan wanted to bring the former Atalanta player back to Serie A, while Tottenham's North London rivals Arsenal were also strongly linked with a surprise move for him.

The exit comes even though Romero's contract with Spurs was due to run until the summer of 2029. It brings to an end his spell in North London, where he helped Tottenham win silverware by lifting the 2024-25 Europa League.

Romero's Premier League spell will be remembered for both his outstanding technical ability and his disciplinary issues. Although he was sent off twice last season during Spurs' Premier League relegation battle, the 28-year-old remained crucial in helping the club stay up. He made 32 appearances in all competitions and contributed six goals and four assists in a campaign that stretched everyone at the club.

Over five seasons in North London, Romero made 124 appearances for Spurs and scored 12 goals, while also collecting four Premier League red cards. His uncompromising, high-intensity approach made him a favourite with many supporters, even if it sometimes caused frustration for others.

The bond between Romero and the fans was not always smooth. He drew heavy criticism from supporters after seeming prepared to attend his boyhood club Belgrano's Argentine Primera Division Apertura final against River Plate instead of being present for Tottenham's vital end-of-season match against Everton.

However, the defender did go on to attend the final game of the season, in which Spurs secured Premier League survival. With his future now set to be in Madrid, the Argentine departs leaving behind a complicated legacy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.