Disgraceful’ – Cristian Romero slams Tottenham’s squad depth in explosive comments
Cristian Romero has once again appeared to aim a subtle jab at Tottenham Hotspur, this time directing his frustration at what he described as the club’s “disgraceful” lack of squad depth.
The World Cup-winning defender voiced his concerns on Instagram a day after starting Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Romero played the first half before being withdrawn at the interval due to illness.
“Great effort from all my teammates yesterday — they were incredible,” wrote the Tottenham captain. “I wanted to be out there to help even though I wasn’t feeling well, especially because we only had 11 players available. Unbelievable, but true — and disgraceful.
“We’ll keep turning up, taking responsibility, working hard and staying united to change things around. And all that’s left is to thank the fans for always being there and supporting us.”
Against City, head coach Thomas Frank was able to name just four senior outfield players among his substitutes. Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert and Pape Matar Sarr were introduced from the bench, alongside 17-year-old defender Jun’ai Byfield. Sarr replaced Romero at half-time, with Frank later confirming the Argentine had been taken off due to illness.
“We’re monitoring him and assessing the situation,” Frank said after the match. “Hopefully he’s okay. He also struggled during the Frankfurt game but still delivered a fantastic captain’s performance. He wasn’t quite right today, but we’re hoping it’s nothing serious.”
After Romero’s withdrawal, Frank moved Sarr into midfield, with defensive midfielder João Palhinha dropping into central defence alongside Radu Drăgușin. The Romanian made his first start in more than a year following recovery from a serious knee injury.
Romero’s latest post is not the first time he has publicly criticised Tottenham’s leadership. After a 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in January, he questioned why senior figures at the club failed to speak out during difficult moments, leaving the players to face the scrutiny.
“At times like this, others should be coming out to talk, but they don’t — and this has been happening for years,” Romero wrote at the time. “They only appear when things are going well.”
He later deleted the final line — “to tell a few lies” — though the rest of the post remains visible on his Instagram account. The centre-back has previously voiced similar frustrations, notably in 2021, when he criticised Tottenham’s spending levels compared to their Premier League rivals.
