A Captain's Unfiltered Blast
Romero's fiery Instagram post arrived just hours after the transfer window slammed shut and a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Manchester City. The defender, who was battling illness himself, watched his teammates battle through with a threadbare squad.
With Tottenham currently grappling with 13 injured players, including key figures like James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Richarlison, Romero's frustration boiled over. He directly criticised the club's perceived inaction in the transfer market, having seen only Conor Gallagher and Brazilian left-back Souza arrive.
"Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible," Romero wrote. "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."
Frank's Measured Response Amidst the Firestorm
Facing a barrage of questions at his pre-Manchester United press conference, Thomas Frank remained tight-lipped regarding any potential disciplinary action against his captain. He repeatedly stated that "everything has been dealt with internally."
Frank acknowledged Romero's passionate nature, stating: "It shows that Cuti [Romero] is extremely passionate. He wants to win, do everything he can with his team-mates to achieve great things... Sometimes when you are like that, it can become an outburst. It is something we have of course dealt with, and dealt with internally."
However, the manager also drew a clear line, admitting, "I wouldn't have done it. That's my message." He also dismissed the broader impact of social media, suggesting too much attention is paid to online commentary.
Defending the Club's Transfer Decisions
Despite Romero's thinly veiled criticism of Tottenham's transfer activity, Frank staunchly defended the club's approach. He highlighted the signings of Conor Gallagher as a quality first-team addition and Souza as a promising prospect for the future.
"If you compare it to other Premier League clubs, that's very good. Where we are, it's ok. We tried to do more, but it was not possible for whatever reason," Frank explained. He emphasized the importance of making "good decisions in the calm - both for the long and short term" rather than simply signing numerous players.
More Than a Single Outburst: A Pattern Emerges
This isn't the first time Romero has publicly voiced his discontent. In January, following a chaotic 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, the Argentinian defender posted a similarly critical message, targeting "other people" (understood to be the club's hierarchy) for allegedly telling "a few lies." That specific reference was later edited out, but the sentiment was clear.
This pattern suggests a deeper undercurrent of frustration within the squad regarding the club's strategic direction and resource management, especially concerning squad depth and injury resilience.
What's Next for Spurs and 'Cuti'?
The immediate focus shifts to Tottenham's upcoming clash against Manchester United. All eyes will be on Romero to see if he retains the captain's armband and his starting position. His commitment on the pitch will undoubtedly be under intense scrutiny as Spurs navigate this turbulent period.
