Cristian Romero: Roberto De Zerbi says 'not all leaders are the same' with Spurs captain set to miss relegation decider vs Everton
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi says "not all leaders are the same" after captain Cristian Romero opted to fly to Argentina instead of attending relegation decider against Everton; Romero will watch boyhood club Belgrano while Spurs battle for Premier League survival
Friday 22 May 2026 16:47, UK
Roberto De Zerbi says "not all leaders are the same" after being quizzed on captain Cristian Romero's decision to fly to Argentina instead of attending Tottenham's game against Everton with their Premier League survival at stake.
Spurs are 17th in the table, two points ahead of West Ham with a superior goal difference, ahead of hosting the Toffees on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Reports have since emerged that Romero, who was not present for the defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, would not be in attendance after flying to Argentina to watch boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in a title decider on Sunday instead.
When asked about the situation ahead of facing Everton, De Zerbi said: "Sometimes, not all the leaders are the same. Ben Davies spoke with me and asked to stay today to work with us. Tomorrow, we sleep in the hotel.
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"He wanted to stay with the team and team-mates. Romero is preparing for the World Cup with an injury. For me, nothing changed.
"Then we have to think, everything is for the best future of Tottenham."
Romero has been sidelined since April with a knee injury and has been ruled out for the season.
De Zerbi was then quizzed on how the decision to allow Romero to leave the country was reached: "He spoke with the medical staff. Together, they decided to go to Argentina to complete rehab with Argentinian medical staff.
"We spoke last week. With me, he has shown he wants to stay with us. I want to be clear, I am not stupid. If I understand that there is a player who thinks for himself before the club, I cannot be the same Roberto.
"With Romero, I can't say nothing. With me, in my time, he has been correct at the beginning until now."
De Zerbi understands Romero criticism but unsure on future
Romero has received widespread criticism from the fanbase for the decision to leave the country while the club is in such a perilous position.
"100 per cent I understand," De Zerbi continued when frustration from supporters was raised in the press conference.
"I don't know. Cristian is a top player and with me, he was a top guy. When I say top guy, it is because I am certain what I am seeing."
The Argentina defender has regularly been linked with a move away from the club since his arrival in 2022 but signed a new contract, committing his future until 2029, last August following the Europa League victory against Manchester United in Bilbao.
Has Romero played his last game for Spurs?
The latest strain on the relationship between the captain and fanbase has led to doubts emerging regarding his future as we approach the summer transfer window.
"For the future, I don't know," De Zerbi said on whether Romero had played his final game for the club "It is a crucial game for a fans and our club. I don't want answers on Romero.
"My focus is on Djed Spence, Kolo Muani and Richarlison [and more]. We have to play with blood, character and spirit because it is a final.
"They played a great final last season and they won a trophy. Maybe there was a bonus. After tomorrow, there is not a trophy or a bonus, there is something more important, the future and the history of the club. The pride of the players and the dignity of everyone of us.
"For that, I can't lose energy thinking of the next season. I will repeat, I am not stupid."
Van de Ven believes Spurs have shown enough quality to survive
Spurs defender Micky van de Ven claimed that the quality in Spurs' recent performances are enough to show they have the quality to avoid relegation.
Roberto De Zerbi's side need to beat Everton to guarantee their place in the Premier League next season, but a defeat would leave the door open for West Ham to leapfrog them by beating Leeds.
Spurs could've ensured the relegation race wouldn't go to the final day by beating Chelsea on Tuesday, but despite losing 2-1, Van de Ven believes they showed enough to prove why they deserve to be in the top flight.
"I wouldn't say Chelsea was a step back," the defender told Sky Sports. "That was the first loss in five games. There were so many things that could've changed the situation. If you flip the penalty moment, we could get a draw. In the last 20 minutes, we played good offensive football. There's also of course a lot of things that we can learn from that game but all the positives we can take into Everton
"I think lately we've shown our quality. We've shown how we can play and obviously for a club like Tottenham, it shouldn't be possible that we're in the situation we're in right now.
"We brought ourselves into this situation, but if you see how we have played lately and since Roberto came in, the positiveness of how we play now and the more offensive football we play, I think we just need to stay up. We just need to make sure we get the three points against Everton and be done with everything that's happened, leave it behind us."
Spurs welcome the Toffees to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having won just twice in 18 Premier League games at home this term, the joint-fewest in the league.
Despite the shocking statistic, Van de Ven had no explanation as to why he and his team-mates have struggled to report in front of their own fans.
"It's so difficult to say," he added. "The home form hasn't been acceptable, but there's not something going on when we play a home game.
"I've seriously no clue, but that's also the past and we have a massive game on Sunday now to change that and win at home. I think that's the most important thing and we're going to need the fans for that and we know they're going to stand behind us."
Nuno urges West Ham players to ignore Spurs score
Nuno Espirito Santo, meanwhile, insisted West Ham will approach their final-day showdown with Leeds with "maximum confidence" and urged his players to ignore any updates from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the game.
"Everybody is going to be aware of what's happening in the other stadium, you cannot go away from that," he said.
"What I hope is that our players ignore what's coming out and focus on the task on the pitch. That is the most important thing.
"Every game is a cup final in the Premier League. Everything is going to be decided.
"There's nothing else in our minds other than Sunday. All the club is focused on Sunday. Then it will be the moment to start thinking about my future.
"it's a tough one. Leeds did a very good season. We played them several times, in the cup, in the league. They have quality players and require the best of us.
"Our fans will be there from the first minute, I can assure you. Then it's up to us to deliver, so the support continues. We have maximum confidence. There's no other way. Maximum confidence, maximum belief."
