Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. The Argentine defender suffered the injury during Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sunderland, when he collided with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while attempting to defend the ball from striker Brian Brobbey.
Romero was substituted out of the game in tears. Reports suggesting he will recover in time for the World Cup are not entirely accurate, but his club season is now over.
Romero's absence is a significant blow to relegation-threatened Tottenham, who are currently in the bottom three and two points from safety with only six league games remaining. New manager Roberto De Zerbi had previously expressed his reliance on Romero, labeling him a 'crucial player' after the defeat at the Stadium of Light. De Zerbi will now have to find an alternative, with Kevin Danso likely to replace Romero for the remainder of the season.
Romero faces a challenge to regain fitness in time for Argentina's World Cup title defense in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with their opening game scheduled for June 17. The injury occurred when Brobbey pushed Romero, leading to questions about whether the striker should have been sent off.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher stated that the incident was not a serious foul, and ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd argued that Romero was trying to shield the ball, leading to the collision. Tottenham's struggles continue, with many of their issues persisting despite the change in management. The team's performance in defeat did little to inspire confidence in their ability to avoid relegation. With De Zerbi at the helm, Spurs will need to address their problems quickly to avoid dropping to the lower division.