Tottenham must choose a new captain: Cristian Romero could leave

Tottenham are searching for a suitable candidate for the captain’s armband, which is expected to become vacant as defensive leader and captain Cristian Romero appears close to leaving the club. The Argentine has made 156 appearances for Tottenham over five seasons, and Italian club Inter and Atlético Madrid are seriously interested in signing him. The English press is discussing this intensively. According to a report from Goal.com.

According to Goal.com, the period has not been particularly successful for Cristian Romero, who was appointed Tottenham’s captain ahead of the 2025–26 season. Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive season, while the player himself faced criticism after leaving for his home country at the end of the campaign. If the experienced defender joins another club during the current transfer window, everyone is wondering who will inherit the captain’s armband.

Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld told GOAL which qualities the next captain should possess. He said Micky van de Ven, one of the leading candidates, gives the impression of being a good person, but the captain must first and foremost be a player who wants to stay at Tottenham.

The main requirements for the captain

Toby Alderweireld stressed that the new captain must clearly show that he intends to remain at the club for the next several years and earn the fans’ trust. Tottenham has no need for players who wear the captain’s armband while secretly planning to join another team. Loyalty and reliability must come first for the club’s stability.

The former player also strongly criticised those who captain the side merely for show, waving their arms and shouting loudly on the pitch. He called them “alibi captains.” In Alderweireld’s view, a true captain must consistently perform at a level of seven or eight out of ten throughout a match and set an example for his teammates through his own play.

If Micky van de Ven is not the leading candidate, players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, who are returning after long-term injuries, are also being mentioned as suitable options for the role. The head coach and the club’s leadership must determine the team’s main on-field leader for next season before the transfer window closes.