Atletico Madrid's Interest in Tottenham Defender Wanes

Atletico Madrid is preparing for another active transfer window in the summer of 2026, as several positions in Diego Simeone's squad require strengthening. One of these key areas is central defense, where several player departures are anticipated.

Jose Maria Gimenez is rumored to be ending his 13-year tenure at the club, and Clement Lenglet is also likely to depart a year after joining permanently from Barcelona. Regarding potential replacements, Tottenham's Cristian Romero continues to feature in news as a possible newcomer to the Metropolitano, as Atletico considers expanding its Argentine contingent.

Los Colchoneros attempted to sign Romero last summer, and 12 months later, they could have made another move. However, according to recent reports, several club officials are now expressing doubts about acquiring the 2022 World Cup winner.

The Main Issue for Atletico Is the Price

According to the reports, there is a belief within Atletico that Romero's asking price, which is likely to exceed €50 million, would not be justified. An amount of €30 million is considered acceptable for the 27-year-old player, who still has three years remaining on his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Furthermore, Atletico has begun to alter its transfer policy, making a move for Romero less likely. The success of Marc Pubill's transfer from Almeria has prompted sporting director Mateu Alemany to focus on young Spanish talents. This is why the potential arrival of Pau Navarro from Villarreal seems more probable.

It remains unclear whether Atletico will make a move for Romero this summer. He would be an ideal addition to Simeone's squad, but the question of acceptable financial terms is an entirely different matter. Given that several positions need to be reinforced during the transfer window, Los Colchoneros cannot afford to spend a large sum on the Argentine international.