Cristian Romero has officially joined Atletico Madrid on a five-year deal, with the La Liga club paying £34.2 million for the 28-year-old Argentine centre-back.
Romero reflected on his time with Tottenham Hotspur, acknowledging that his performance was "not perfect" during his five years at the club. He stated, "But one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart."
His final appearance for Tottenham was in April, where he sustained a knee injury that forced him to miss the team's last six Premier League matches. During this period, he faced criticism for planning to attend his first club Belgrano's Primera Division Apertura final in Argentina while Tottenham was in a relegation battle. He did, however, return to England to witness Tottenham's 1-0 victory over Everton, a result that secured their 17th-place finish for the second consecutive season.
Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and became a key figure in their defense, making 156 appearances. A significant achievement during his tenure was helping the club win their first trophy in 17 years by defeating Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final. "When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club's history," Romero added. "I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it."
He expressed his enduring connection to the club, stating, "I'm leaving the club, but a part of my heart will always remain here. Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever. With all my love and respect. Thank you for everything."