Romero's Release Clause Exposed as Father Hints at Shock Belgrano Return

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero could be heading for the exit this summer, with his father Victor having laid bare the financial hurdle any interested party would need to clear.

Speaking to Argentine radio station Cadena 3, Victor Romero disclosed that his son's contract at Spurs contains a release clause valued between $50-70m—roughly £37.8m to £53m in sterling. The revelation comes as several of the club's star names face an uncertain future, particularly should Tottenham suffer an unprecedented drop to the Championship, something that hasn't happened in nearly half a century.

The defensive stalwart remains a prime target for Atletico Madrid, though Roberto De Zerbi's recent appointment as manager offers hope that the club can avoid the unthinkable. Still, there's no guarantee that even a managerial change will convince Romero and fellow centre-back Micky van de Ven to stay put.

Spurs splashed out £43m to bring Romero from Atalanta in summer 2021, making him their second-priciest acquisition at that time. The World Cup winner has since clocked up over 150 appearances for the Lilywhites and was instrumental in last season's Europa League success—the club's first silverware in 17 years.

Yet his stint in north London has been marred by disciplinary troubles. The 27-year-old has picked up two red cards this campaign alone and served six games through suspension as a result.

Perhaps more intriguingly, Victor Romero has stoked the flames around talk of his son abandoning both Atletico and Spurs in favour of a romantic homecoming to boyhood outfit Belgrano. Romero began his professional life there, making 19 appearances before joining Genoa in July 2018, and such a move would represent a full circle moment for the Argentine.

When pressed on the Belgrano speculation, Victor refused to rule anything out entirely. "It's a bombshell that keeps getting bigger," he told Cadena 3. "I hope it's true. As a Belgrano fan and father, what more could I want? But I don't know anything."

He went on to explain that his son's typically low profile makes the chatter even more surprising. "Cuti isn't one to make statements, that's why it surprises me," he said, before adding: "I don't know anything, but in football, anything can happen. Today, you might be thinking about being close to your family, and tomorrow, they put together a team to win the championship, and everything changes."