'Did he want to leave Tottenham so badly?' Son Heung-min's successor as captain bids farewell despite no official announcement: "It wasn't a perfect journey..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Was it really that much of a desire to leave Tottenham Hotspur? Following Son Heung-min (LAFC), Cristian Romero, who had worn the captain's armband at Tottenham, announced his move to Atletico Madrid by personally posting a farewell message on his private social networking service (SNS) before the club issued an official statement.

On the 15th (Korea time), Romero posted on his personal SNS: "I am saying goodbye to a place that became more than just a club over five seasons. Tottenham was my home and my challenge — a space where I and my family built precious parts of our lives." He shared his feelings about leaving Tottenham.

He continued, "I am leaving with immense pride in everything we experienced and achieved together, and filled with cherished memories. When I first arrived, I had a clear dream to leave my name in the club's history, and I knew that path required only dedication, sacrifice, and lifting trophies again — something once thought impossible. And we did it."

Romero also did not forget to express gratitude to club staff and fans. He said, "It wasn't a perfect journey, but I don't want to define my farewell by that. I will remember only the happy moments, the lessons learned, the people who stood by me, and the love I received over five years." He added, "I am truly grateful to the manager, teammates, staff, and everyone working behind the scenes. From day one, fans treated me like family, showing me love and respect — for that, I am sincerely thankful. It wasn't perfect, but I always gave everything and protected this jersey with all my heart. Though I am leaving the team, a part of my heart will remain here forever."

Earlier, European transfer expert Fabrizio Romano had announced on the 13th that "Romero is heading to Atletico," using his signature phrase 'HERE WE GO' typically reserved for confirmed transfers. According to Romano, Atletico and Tottenham reached a final agreement on a transfer fee totaling 40 million euros (approximately 65.4 billion won), including an option clause. With negotiations with Inter Milan collapsing in July and Barcelona also halting their acquisition process, the move to Atletico gained momentum after Tottenham ruled out selling Romero to North London rival Arsenal.

Following Son Heung-min's departure to LAFC, Tottenham has undertaken a major restructuring by also parting ways with their new captain, Romero. Although Manchester United and Real Madrid had also shown interest in signing Romero, Atletico emerged as the final winner thanks to the decisive judgment of manager Diego Simeone, who strongly demanded reinforcement of the defensive line.

As a result, Romero will form a new connection at Atletico with Lee Kang-in, another South Korean football star who followed Son Heung-min from Tottenham. Lee Kang-in, who played for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) until last season, joined Atletico first on a five-year contract valid until 2031, with a transfer fee of up to 40 million euros (approximately 65.6 billion won).

With the addition of Romero and Lee Kang-in, Atletico concluded its pre-season with a friendly match against Marseille on the 15th and will open the 2026–2027 La Liga season on the 20th at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in a Round 1 clash against Malaga.

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*This content was translated by AI.