In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Gianluigi Longari claimed that Barcelona are eyeing a loan move for Juventus centre-half Cristian Romero, who is playing on loan at Atalanta, with an obligation to buy him permanently next summer. However, it is understood that the Catalan giants will have to rival Tottenham Hotspur in the chase to acquire the signature of the Argentine defensive ace (via Gianluigi Longari).
#Barcelona made the first offer for #Romero 🇦🇷 (including a swap) which was refused. #Barcelona are preparing to do another one: loan with obligation.
– #Tottenham still on fire about that (since first enquiry 13july) are also preparing a higher offer. #THFC @tvdellosport
— Gianluigi Longari (@Glongari) July 29, 2021
Romero’s Excellent Season At The Gewiss Stadium Recently
It has been an encouraging loan spell for the Cordoba-born talent in Serie A as he managed to impress at the centre of Atalanta’s defence last season. The 23-year-old registered three goals and five assists in 42 matches for the Italian outfit in the previous campaign across various competitions.
Romero caught the eye with his performances in central defence based on his average 2.0 tackles, 3.1 interceptions and 2.2 clearances per 90 minutes in the Italian first division. The Argentine sensation distributed the ball with conviction, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 86.2% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The ex-Genoa defender is a player on the rise and would be a decent option for Barca to pursue in this off-season. He would be a good loan acquisition for the Catalans as he will immediately bolster Ronald Koeman’s defensive options for the new campaign.
What Will Romero Bring To The Nou Camp?
Romero loves to go in for some crunching tackles and can make life difficult for the opposition by closing them down quickly inside his half. He has got the hunger to intercept the ball for his side and can make some timely clearances when needed. Standing at 1.85m, the South American sensation can be a strong presence in the air and is often a commanding figure inside his penalty box.
The five-time Argentina international is usually quite tidy when playing his way out from the back and can even put his body on the line to block a goal-bound shot from the opposition. Hence, he has all the skillset needed to be a success story at the Nou Camp as long as he can make a smooth transition to Spanish football.
Romero will be a decent signing for Barca even if it is on a loan deal as he will bring a lot of quality to Koeman’s defensive department this summer. He could serve as an upgrade over Gerard Pique, who is way past his prime. Hence, the Catalan heavyweights should try everything they can to sign Romero on loan with a view of making his transfer permanent next summer.
