Atletico Madrid have thrown their hat into the ring and are now well-poised to hijack one of Barcelona’s most coveted summer targets.
FC Barcelona have spent much of the summer tracking the defender to reinforce Hansi Flick’s backline, with the player actively prioritizing a switch to Spotify Camp Nou and even expressing willingness to adjust his wage expectations to enable the deal.
However, Barcelona’s reluctance to formalize a concrete offer has left the door wide open for rival suitors to pounce.
The marquee center-back at the heart of this transfer tug-of-war is Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero.
Recognizing Barcelona’s hesitation to advance the operation, Atletico Madrid sporting director Mateu Alemany and manager Diego Simeone have pounced, making the 2022 World Cup winner their absolute top defensive priority for the window.
Reports from Diario Sport indicate that Los Colchoneros are preparing an opening proposal in the region of €30 million to kickstart negotiations with Tottenham, seeking to finalize terms swiftly.
Atletico Madrid have held a long-standing interest in Romero for over a year, but previous financial demands from North London prevented any concrete movement.
With conditions now far more favorable and funds expected from outgoing squad rebalancing—including potential departures for Matteo Ruggeri and Nahuel Molina—Atletico Madrid feel confident in their ability to meet Tottenham’s valuation.
For Barcelona, missing out on Romero represents a significant setback in their summer recruitment plan.
Having waited patiently for the Catalans to trigger a move, the defender is now ready to commit to Simeone’s project at the Metropolitano.
With negotiations rapidly advancing between London and Madrid, Atlético look set to lock down one of Europe’s premier central defenders right under Barcelona’s nose.
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