Tue Sep 10 14:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Manchester United’s Pursuit of Cristian Romero Hits a Brick Wall

Manchester United’s pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur’s star defender Cristian Romero was met with a firm “no” from the North London club, despite the Red Devils’ interest in replicating the successful Argentina partnership between Romero and Lisandro Martinez at club level.

According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, United were among three teams, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, who expressed their admiration for the 2022 World Cup winner. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, known for his tough negotiating stance, refused to even discuss a price for Romero, who is considered a key player for manager Ange Postecoglou.

United’s pursuit of a new right-sided center-half arose after the departure of Raphael Varane and injury concerns. They explored several options, including Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and ultimately secured deals for Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.

The timing of United’s interest in Romero is unclear, but it’s likely they had accepted defeat before committing to De Ligt. This makes sense considering Romero’s strong partnership with Martinez for both Argentina and Tottenham.

Romero, known for his aggressive style and strong bond with Martinez, is contracted to Tottenham until 2026. With Real Madrid already showing interest, Tottenham may face another protracted transfer saga similar to those involving Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, particularly if Romero’s contract runs down.

Manchester United, meanwhile, will continue their defensive overhaul in the coming years, with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof likely to depart. However, if Levy is forced to sell Romero, it’s more likely he’ll prefer to negotiate with Real Madrid rather than United, a sentiment that echoes the Harry Kane transfer to Bayern Munich in 2023.

The prospect of Romero potentially joining Manchester United, a direct Premier League rival, would likely be far more painful for Tottenham than a move to a club like Real Madrid, further emphasizing Levy’s reluctance to entertain any potential offers from the Red Devils.

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