Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to completing Cristian Romero’s transfer.
The centre-back travelled to London on Thursday and prior to making the trip to the English capital, he told Sky Italia Spurs ‘was the right choice’. The 23-year-old arrives at Tottenham after winning the Copa América with Argentina last month.
His compatriot, Lionel Messi, who has been a free agent from July 1st, has left Barcelona after they couldn’t register him for next campaign due to ‘LaLiga regulations’.
It’s been made clear several times the financial issues at the Catalan club is the main reason behind the forward’s departure.
Mundo Deportivo state that along with the economic difficulties, certain sporting aspects also impacted on the 34-year-old’s decision to leave the Camp Nou.
Among them was the club’s failure to land Romero as the defender’s signing was an ‘express request’ from Messi.
Providing a background on the efforts made by the Spanish side, the report says Barca tried to take the South American on a loan deal, but it didn’t work out. Ronald Koeman’s side even submitted an offer of €40m fixed fee plus €10m in bonuses.
This information was provided to Mundo from club sources, while those close to Messi have denied these claims.
Mundo’s report is also echoed by ABC, who add that Messi wasn’t convinced with Barca’s sporting project, even after they signed his friend, Sergio Agüero.
ABC adds Messi ‘would not have liked that his request to sign’ Romero was not fulfilled. The defender’s signing was his ‘express request’ to Barcelona.
The Serie A man is close to becoming a new Tottenham player and both Mundo and ABC suggests Barcelona lost Messi partly because they failed to beat Spurs in signing Romero.
