Romero Criticises Spurs’ Board for Lack of Investment

Tottenham Defender Cristian Romero Calls for More Spending to Compete with Rivals

Tottenham Hotspur’s central defender, Cristian Romero, has voiced his frustrations with the club’s lack of financial investment following their disappointing 4-3 loss to Chelsea on Sunday. The loss, which saw Spurs squander a 2-0 lead at home, has raised serious concerns over the club’s current form and the challenges they face in competing for top honors. Romero’s comments came in a candid interview with Spanish broadcaster Telemundo Deportes, where the Argentina international pointed out the growing disparity between Tottenham and their Premier League rivals, highlighting the need for better investment in the squad to remain competitive.

Romero’s Criticism of Spurs’ Board and Their Failure to Spend

In his interview, Cristian Romero expressed his dissatisfaction with the club’s failure to match the spending levels of other top Premier League teams. Despite a successful spell under manager Ange Postecoglou, Spurs’ recent performance has been underwhelming, with the club winning only one of their past seven matches across all competitions. This poor form has left Spurs sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, with the defeat to Chelsea further compounding their issues.

Romero drew comparisons between Spurs and other big clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, who have consistently strengthened their squads in recent years. “Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results,” Romero remarked, pointing out that these clubs’ continuous investment in players is what allows them to remain competitive. He added, “Those are the things to imitate,” referring to how Tottenham could benefit from a similar approach.

Romero also made it clear that the lack of spending is hampering Spurs’ ability to compete at the highest level. As the club’s most expensive summer signings have not yet shown their full potential, the Argentine defender’s remarks suggest that Spurs are falling behind in terms of squad depth and overall investment compared to their rivals. “You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realise it,” he said, underlining the importance of addressing the financial shortcomings.

Spurs’ Declining Form and Manager Instability

Tottenham’s current run of poor form is far from an isolated incident. In recent years, the club has struggled with managerial instability, having parted ways with several managers, including José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, and Antonio Conte. Postecoglou is now the fifth manager to oversee the team since Romero’s arrival in 2021. Despite this managerial turnover, Romero believes the real issue lies with the club’s board and its lack of financial commitment. He emphasized that it is the club’s leadership, rather than the manager, that is responsible for Tottenham’s current struggles.

“The last few years, it’s always the same – first the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it’s always the same people responsible,” Romero commented. “Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.” His frustration with the board’s lack of investment is palpable, as he believes that Tottenham, with the right resources, could be competing for league titles regularly, but that potential is being undermined by the board’s reluctance to spend.

Financial Struggles and Spurs’ Spending Pattern

Tottenham Hotspur’s financial troubles have been well-documented, with the club reporting losses of £86.8 million for the 2022-23 season. While their revenue rose significantly, reaching a record £549.6 million, the club still faced a fourth consecutive year of losses. This financial strain has led the club to seek “prospective investors” to boost their equity base and enable further investment in both the squad and infrastructure.

In contrast, some of Spurs’ competitors, like Manchester City and Liverpool, continue to invest heavily, creating an ever-widening gap in terms of squad quality and depth. While Spurs’ total spending on transfers reached £224.5 million for the 2023-24 season, including several key signings such as Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Dominic Solanke, the overall lack of high-profile, established players has left the team vulnerable to disappointing results.

Journalists defending Spurs’ chairman, Daniel Levy, argue that the club is being run sustainably. Rory Smith, a journalist for BBC Radio 5 Live, praised Levy’s approach to managing the club’s finances, stating, “The way Spurs is run is sustainable and ultimately that’s good, that’s what clubs should be doing.” According to Smith, Spurs’ summer signings were made with a long-term view, focusing on younger talents like Bergvall and Gray, who are still developing and could prove to be valuable assets in the future. However, the question remains whether these strategic signings are enough to push Tottenham into the elite ranks of English football in the short term.

Spurs’ Financial Outlook and the Road Ahead

While Tottenham Hotspur’s overall spending since 2016-17 stands at a significant £949 million, with a net spend of £518 million, their financial strategy is clearly not yielding immediate success on the pitch. Comparatively, Premier League leaders Liverpool have spent £858 million with a net spend of £308 million, showcasing how other clubs have made more impactful investments in their squads. This raises the question of whether Spurs can continue to operate within their current financial constraints or whether they need a more aggressive investment strategy to close the gap with their rivals.

Ultimately, Cristian Romero’s criticism of Spurs’ board highlights a deep frustration with the club’s inability to properly invest in the squad and provide the necessary resources to compete with the best. While the board remains committed to running the club sustainably, the lack of investment and failure to meet expectations may leave Spurs and their supporters wondering if more aggressive action is required to take the team back to the top of English football.