Roberto De Zerbi on Cristian Romero's Future: A Promise Kept

Roberto De Zerbi has never been shy about blunt truths, and on Cristian Romero’s future he stayed firmly on brand: gratitude, respect, and a clear promise kept.

The Spurs head coach confirmed he will not stand in the defender’s way if Romero chooses to move on, revealing that a pact made in the first chaotic days of his tenure is now being honoured.

A pact made in survival mode

De Zerbi arrived in April and immediately went to work on the dressing room. Not with slogans, but with one-on-one conversations.

“At the beginning of my time, in April, I had, I don’t know, one million individual meetings,” he said, as quoted by Metro. In those talks, players laid out their ambitions. De Zerbi laid out his terms.

His message was simple and ruthless. Help keep the club up, and he would not block an exit. Fail, and they would sink together.

“I said: ‘Yes, help me to stay up, and then I help you to leave’. If you don’t help me to stay up, you stay underwater with me!”

Romero, he stressed, held up his end of the bargain.

Romero’s commitment defended

In an era where suspicion follows any player linked with a move, De Zerbi moved quickly to defend Romero’s professionalism and commitment.

“But Romero with me was unbelievable. Top, in his behaviour, his respect, he suffered when he did not play the last game,” he said.

Rumours had swirled that the centre-back had pushed to leave early for Argentina to prepare for the World Cup. De Zerbi dismissed that outright.

“It is not true that he wanted to leave for Argentina to prepare for their World Cup. It’s not true.”

The Italian painted a picture of a player who stayed engaged, stayed hurt when left out, and stayed loyal to the collective effort when it mattered most.

No persuasion, just respect

Once Argentina’s semi-final against England was over, there was contact, but no sales pitch.

“After the semi-final [against England] we text a message, but I never called him to convince him to stay,” De Zerbi said. “I respected what he told me. Like for [Guglielmo] Vicario, like for every player.”

The stance is clear: no chasing, no pleading, no emotional blackmail. Just a manager standing by his word, even when it involves one of his standout performers.

“Romero as a player is one of the best centre-backs in the world,” he added. “But at the end I said I want to respect the will of the players.”

So if Romero decides his “new challenge” lies away from Spurs, De Zerbi will not be the obstacle. He will be the man who shook hands in April, survived the storm, and then stepped aside exactly as promised.