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  "path": "/sport/football/cristian-romero-tottenham-everton",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-24T10:09:17.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Rico Verhoeven makes big announcement after controversial defeat to Oleksandr Usyk",
    "Emma Raducanu gives health update as tennis star prepares return to action",
    "Golf chief removed by PGA of America following abuse suffered by Rory McIlroy and other stars",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nCristian Romero has made a dramatic return to London after facing fierce backlash over his decision to fly to Argentina ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's biggest game of the season.\n\nThe Spurs captain had come under heavy fire after choosing to miss the club's crucial clash with Everton in order to travel home and watch boyhood club Club Atlético Belgrano in their Championship final against River Plate.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRomero had been expected to attend Sunday's final with the Argentine side's delegation.\n\nThe defender travelled back to South America earlier this week after being ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury sustained against Sunderland in April.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nHis absence sparked outrage among supporters and pundits alike as Tottenham's Premier League survival hangs in the balance.\n\nSpurs' defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge means their fate will now be decided on the final day of the season.\n\nBut in a dramatic twist, Romero was spotted back in London on Saturday and now appears set to attend Sunday's showdown against Everton instead of Belgrano's title decider.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 28-year-old shared a photo on Instagram showing himself getting a haircut alongside his son in East Finchley following days of mounting criticism.\n\nTottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi defended Romero on Friday and insisted the Argentina trip had been approved by the club's medical staff.\n\n\"He spoke with the medical staff,\" De Zerbi said.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Rico Verhoeven makes big announcement after controversial defeat to Oleksandr Usyk\n  * Emma Raducanu gives health update as tennis star prepares return to action\n  * Golf chief removed by PGA of America following abuse suffered by Rory McIlroy and other stars\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Together, they decided to go to Argentina to complete rehab with Argentinian medical staff.\"\n\nThe Italian also rejected suggestions Romero had put himself ahead of the club.\n\n\"I want to be clear, I am not stupid,\" he said. \"If I understand that there is a player who thinks for himself before the club, I cannot be the same Roberto.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"With Romero, I can't say nothing. With me, in my time, he has been correct at the beginning until now.\"\n\nDe Zerbi admitted he understood why supporters were angry but maintained his belief in the defender's character.\n\n\"Cristian is a top player and with me, he was a top guy,\" he added.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNot everyone agreed, however.\n\nFormer Tottenham midfielder Glenn Hoddle launched a blistering attack on Romero and branded the situation \"scandalous\".\n\n\"I can't believe what I'm hearing,\" Hoddle said.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"The captain of the football club has gone to Argentina to watch a game back there that is so-called more important than Tottenham's last game of the season with the club on the brink of going down.\n\n\"He's captain of the football club. It's scandalous.\"\n\nHoddle even suggested Spurs should consider selling Romero after the controversy.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Cristian Romero makes remarkable U-turn ahead of crunch Tottenham and Everton clash"
}