Cristian 'Cuti' Romero leaves Tottenham Hotspur to sign for Atlético Madrid

Argentina national team defender Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero is the latest World Cup star to move clubs, with Spanish giants Atlético Madrid agreeing a €40 million deal with Tottenham Hotspur for the centre-back, plus additional bonuses.

Romero will sign a five-year contract with Atlético, according to local media reports, with Spurs also inserting a 15 percent sell-on clause into the agreement.

The 28-year-old will leave England after five seasons to join Diego Simeone’s side, who have repeatedly tried to sign him in previous transfer windows and came close to securing his move on several occasions. This time, negotiations proved successful, allowing Tottenham to part ways with one of their key defensive players.

Romero has previously said he would like to play in La Liga and will now begin a new chapter in Madrid under Simeone, another icon of Argentine football.

The defender came through the ranks at Córdoba-based Belgrano before moving to Europe, initially joining Genoa and later Atalanta in Italy. He then moved to Tottenham, where he established himself as a first-team regular and became one of the most important Argentine centre-backs in European football.

Romero took over the captaincy at Spurs and was in inspirational form as the club won the 2025 Europa League final, ending their 17-year trophy drought.

His final season in England was considerably less successful. Romero was sent off twice during a difficult campaign in which Tottenham flirted with relegation from the Premier League. He also missed the end of the season with a knee injury, although he recovered in time for the World Cup.

In total, Romero made 124 appearances for Tottenham over five seasons, scoring 11 goals and receiving four red cards.

At Atlético, he will face the challenge of adapting quickly to Spanish football and Simeone’s demands, while the Madrid club finally secure the signing of a player they have courted for years.

Other World Cup stars on the move: Molina, Rulli, Barco and Almada

Romero is not the only member of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad to move clubs this summer.

Another international on the move is attacking midfielder Thiago Almada, who will play for River Plate next season after the Buenos Aires club reached an agreement with Atlético Madrid for his transfer.

"Atlético Madrid and River Plate have reached an agreement for the transfer of Thiago Almada to the Buenos Aires-based club," the Spanish side said in a statement on Saturday.

Atléti did not disclose the transfer fee, but reports in the Spanish press put the value of the deal at around €20 million (US$23 million).

Almada's international and club teammate Nahuel Molina will also leave Atlético, joining AS Roma.

The 28-year-old right back, who also featured in last month’s World Cup final as Argentina lost their title to Spain, will cost Roma a reported €17 million (US$20 million).

The 65-times capped defender won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and made 249 appearances, scoring 19 goals, during his time in European football with Udinese and Atlético, Roma said.

Molina could make his debut when Roma, who have returned to the Champions League after a seven-year absence, face Fiorentina in their Serie A opener on August 24.

Elsewhere, Manchester City signed Argentina international goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli from Marseille on a two-year deal on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old will serve as City’s second-choice goalkeeper behind Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma.

‘This is an amazing opportunity for me and one I had to grasp,’ said Rulli, who is returning to City for a second spell after spending the 2016-17 season at the Etihad without making a first-team appearance.

‘When the chance to join Manchester City comes along, you have to go for it. Everyone knows what an impressive club this is,’ he added.

‘City’s success over a long time has been impressive. Everyone I have spoken to about City said I had to join them because they are a club with incredibly high standards. My job now is to train hard, get to know the players and staff and do everything I can to reach my best level.’

Rulli has won eight caps for Argentina and was part of the squads that won the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América, as well as reaching last month’s World Cup final.

He previously played for Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Montpellier and Ajax. He famously scored a penalty in Villarreal’s 2021 Europa League final victory over Manchester United before saving the decisive spot-kick from David de Gea to secure an 11-10 shootout win.

Marseille, meanwhile, have been forced to sell players this summer after being fined €10 million for failing to meet UEFA break-even targets. The club’s fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 during the 2025-26 season also means they will miss out on the lucrative Champions League.

On Tuesday, Marseille announced the departure of another Argentine defender, Facundo Medina, to Bayer Leverkusen after just one season at the club.

The French side had already parted ways with some of their highest earners, including English forward Mason Greenwood, who joined Fenerbahçe, and Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who moved to Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña.

Valentín Barco has also left French football, becoming Chelsea’s seventh signing of the transfer window after joining from sister club Strasbourg on a seven-year deal last Sunday.

Barco is the second player to move to the Blues from the Ligue 1 club this window, following Emmanuel Emegha. It is also the 13th deal between the two clubs since the start of last season. They share the same ownership group.

The 22-year-old was part of Argentina’s squad at the World Cup and was involved in an angry exchange with Jude Bellingham over his exuberant celebrations in front of England players during the semi-final.

Barco can play both left-back and in midfield and previously had a brief spell in the Premier League with Brighton. He initially joined Strasbourg on loan from the Seagulls in 2024 before making the move permanent a year later, having helped the club qualify for the Conference League.

His arrival continues Chelsea’s busy summer transfer window as they look to remodel the squad under new head coach Xabi Alonso.

Barco may have expected to line up alongside Argentina team-mate Enzo Fernández, but reports in England have linked the experienced midfielder with a £120 million move to Manchester City, now managed by Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure.

– TIMES/AFP