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Atlético Madrid signs Cristian Romero from Tottenham for €40 million

8/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Atlético Madrid signed Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero from Tottenham Hotspur for €40 million.
The contract includes €35 million fixed fees, €5 million variables and a 15 percent sell-on clause.
Romero agreed to a five-year deal to 2031 with a €6 million annual salary.
Coach Diego Simeone plans to field Romero as the defensive anchor alongside Dávid Hancko and Marc Pubill when Atlético host Málaga.

History

Historical Context

After Juventus’s 2006 relegation from the Calciopoli scandal awarded Inter Milan the Serie A title, the club used the boosted revenue to buy Argentine centre-back Walter Samuel from Real Madrid for €16 million in 2005, one of the first six-figure Euro fees for a South American defender. This early investment set a precedent that Spanish clubs later emulated when acquiring Argentine defenders.

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Story summary

Atlético Madrid signed Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero from Tottenham Hotspur for €40 million.
The contract includes €35 million fixed fees, €5 million variables and a 15 percent sell-on clause.
Romero agreed to a five-year deal to 2031 with a €6 million annual salary.
Coach Diego Simeone plans to field Romero as the defensive anchor alongside Dávid Hancko and Marc Pubill when Atlético host Málaga.

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