A decision has been made over Cristian Romero’s availability this summer which will come as a big boost to Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite previously outlining his ambitions to play, Cristian Romero has been omitted from the Argentina Olympic football squad which will compete in Paris later this month.
Mascherano still named many World Cup winners
Despite the Olympic games in Paris holding a football event that will run, should the player’s team reach the final, until the week before the start of the Premier League season, Romero had expressed his desire to represent his nation.
Tottenham vice-captain, Romero, explained back in March how he would ‘love’ to be given the chance to play for Argentina in the Olympics and possibly add the title of Olympian to his already impressive CV that is punctuated by his 2022 World Cup success (The Standard).
He said: “I never had the chance to be in the Olympic Games and I would love to.
“Obviously, it doesn’t depend on me, but if you want to take me I am available for the Argentine national team.
“I continue with the same enthusiasm and desire as always to continue doing things well at the club to continue having the possibility of being here.”
The Standard did report that clubs have the opportunity to veto the player’s involvement in the tournament which perhaps explains why manager, Javier Mascherano, has opted for many players who play in Argentina.
Romero and Messi will both not travel to Paris
However, on Wednesday (3/7/24), former Barcelona player, Javier Mascherano, named his squad that will partake in the Olympics with neither Romero nor Messi featuring in the eighteen-man squad. (Olympic Website)
Squads consist of mainly under-23’s players with three spots being allocated for ‘senior’ players. Romero would have taken up one of the spots but instead, Mascherano named goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 36-year-old, Otamendi, as well as Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez.
Romero is currently representing Argentina this summer at Copa America in the United States, will now instead return to Tottenham following the conclusion of Argentina’s run and is expected to be fit and ready for Ange Postecoglou’s second season at the helm.
Spurs Web Opinion
Although the attraction of playing for your country and the possibility of becoming a gold medal Olympian is understandable, selfishly this omission is ideal for Tottenham.
Romero is key to Spurs and losing him for the start of the league season could have meant Postecoglou had a stuttering start.
It’s also possible that had Romero been included in the squad, Tottenham would have vetoed the decision, which knowing Romero could have led to a fiery debate. It may be best for both Romero and the club that the situation has been swerved.
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