Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has reportedly secured a preferential escape route to La Liga, with a special release clause in his contract allowing him to join Spain’s elite squad for a fixed fee of 60 million euros.
The Argentina World Cup winner, who signed a lucrative contract extension last summer, appears to be planning his future away from north London amid a season of unprecedented turmoil at the club.
According to MARCA, this clause was strategically included by Romero to avoid sacrificing his dream move to Spain.
Spurs officially value their star defender at nearly €70 million, but this ‘special clause’ will offer a significant discount to a select group of suitors.
Cristian Romero special clause only applies to La Liga’s big three
The special nature of the contract means that not just any club can trigger the €60 million fee.
This clause only applies to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
Diego Simeone’s Atlético are considered the favorites. The Argentine has never hidden his admiration for his compatriot, recently saying he is a “huge fan” of Romero’s personality and defensive aggression.
Real Madrid are also reportedly monitoring the situation with a view to revamping their aging backline. The report adds that Romero has similar qualities and is aware of the terms of his contract.
Meanwhile, Barcelona also remain interested despite continuing financial constraints.
Romero likely to leave Tottenham after another frustrating season
The emergence of this clause comes at a time when the relationship between Romero and Tottenham has reportedly cooled.
Spurs are currently in the midst of a hopeless relegation battle, sitting in 17th place, just one point above the drop zone.
Romero expressed his displeasure and publicly criticized the club’s lack of intent in the January transfer window.
While La Liga has been tipped as a likely destination for the ‘world-class’ centre-back, a move to Premier League rivals Manchester United cannot be completely ruled out, with the Red Devils reportedly prepared to offer him a lucrative contract.
