Cristian Romero will not feature again for Tottenham Hotspur this season after scans confirmed knee ligament damage, dealing a major blow to the club’s survival hopes.
The Spurs captain sustained the injury in a freak collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky during the second half of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge.
Romero left the pitch in tears in the 70th minute, immediately raising fears over both Tottenham’s relegation battle and his World Cup prospects.
While the club is yet to issue an official update, Romero is not expected to require surgery.
However, he is likely to miss the final six Premier League fixtures, with an estimated recovery timeline of up to eight weeks.
His absence compounds an already dire situation for Spurs, who are now two points adrift in the relegation zone and winless in 14 matches.
There is cautious optimism in Argentina that Romero might recover in time for their World Cup opener against Algeria in June.
With relegation looming, the defender may also have played his final game for the club.
If the club goes down, he is expected to leave alongside a host of key players, but replacing him in the second division will be tricky.
The club must take into account the emergence of youngster Luka Vuskovic. They cannot afford to block his pathway to the first team.
Due to Romero’s injuries, poorly-timed comments, and just the way this season has played out, the time to part ways with the Argentine enforcer may be upon us soon.
He has been a ‘crucial’ force in the Spurs rearguard, but the time to move on has come.
If Tottenham manage to retain their Premier League status, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul Van Hecke should be on the transfer radar.
His defensive prowess and experience working with De Zerbi make him the ideal candidate to replace Romero.