Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero joined us from Atalanta in August, 2021 - and is now one of of a select band of players who can call themselves World Cup winners.

Defender 'Cuti' became only the second Spurs player (ie, at the Club at the time) alongside Hugo Lloris - who he faced in the final - to lift the 2022 World Cup when Argentina beat Hugo's France on penalties in a thrilling final in Qatar in December.

Back in N17, Cuti had somewhat of a disrupted 2022/23, both through injury and the World Cup. He was injured just before departing for Qatar, missing five matches, and featured in 34 of our 50 matches, 33 starts, including 26 starts of 27 appearances in the Premier League. That took him to 64 appearances for us in all competitions.

Cristian arrived at Spurs having been named 'Best Defender' in Serie A in 2020/21, with his performances helping Atalanta to a third-successive third place league finish. He made it a summer to remember by being part of the Argentina squad that won the Copa America in July, 2021. Cristian made three appearances in the tournament, including a start in the final against Brazil, keeping a clean sheet as La Albiceleste ended a 27-year wait for a major title.

Born in Cordoba, Cristian began his career at Belgrano in the Argentine Primera Division, making his debut in 2016. He joined Genoa in Serie A in 2018 and then Juventus a year later, with Juve loaning him back to Genoa for the 2019/20 season.

He was loaned again at the start of 2019/20, this time to Atalanta - a move that was later made permanent. He made 42 appearances for the Bergamo club in 2020/21, including seven in the Champions League, helping La Dea to third place in Serie A and to the final of the Coppa Italia.

After a tricky start to his debut season in 2021/22, compounded by a hamstring injury suffered on international duty for Argentina that kept him out from 16 November until 5 February, 'Cuti' became a crucial part of Antonio Conte's back three, playing on the right alongside Eric Dier and Ben Davies as the trio started 14 successive matches together, starting with the 3-2 win at Manchester City, up to the 1-1 draw against Liverpool in May, when he picked up an injury that ended his season early.

That run included 13 matches in the Premier League, winning eight, losing three and conceding just eight goals as the team ended the season with 10 wins in the last 14 in the Premier League to secure fourth spot and a return to the UEFA Champions League. Aggressive in the tackle, strong one-on-one and in the air, with the ability to bring the ball out from the back or drop passes into our front players, Cuti featured 30 times in all competitions in his debut season, 22 in the Premier League.

Having represented Argentina at Under-20 level, Cristian made his senior debut in a World Cup qualifier against Chile on 3 June, 2021. He scored just 130 seconds into his second appearance against Colombia on 8 June. Part of Argentina's Copa America-winning side in 2021, he subsequently reached the pinnacle of football by winning the World Cup with his country in Qatar in December, 2022. At the end of 2022/23, Cuti had earned 22 caps (two goals).

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