Madrid [Spain], August 15 (ANI): Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Argentina international Cristian Gabriel 'Cuti' Romero from Tottenham Hotspur. The 28-year-old centre-back has signed a contract with the Spanish club until June 30, 2031.

Romero joins Atletico after five seasons with Tottenham, where he established himself as a cornerstone of the club's defence and played a key role in their 2024/25 UEFA Europa League triumph, as per the Atletico Madrid website.

Romero began his professional career at Club Atletico Belgrano, making his debut with the first team in August 2016. He remained there for two seasons before moving to Europe to join Italian side Genoa.

After a remarkable debut in Serie A, he signed for Juventus in the summer of 2019. However, while under contract with the Bianconeri, he had several loan spells: first back at Genoa (2019/20), then at Atalanta (2020/21), where he was named Serie A's best defender - and finally at Tottenham Hotspur (2021/22).

The English club secured his services permanently at the end of his loan, leading him to wear the Spurs shirt for another four years. In total, he spent five seasons in London, playing 156 matches, scoring 13 goals, providing 7 assists, and winning the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League. In that tournament, Cristian Romero was chosen as the best player of both the competition and the final, and it marked Tottenham's first European title in 31 years.

Having earned 58 caps for the Argentine national team, he made his debut in June 2021 and has never finished lower than second place in any competition he has played for the Albiceleste.

He was a key player in Argentina's victories in the 2022 World Cup Final, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, and their recent runner-up finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (ANI)