Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has announced his departure from the north London club on Instagram ahead of a £34 million move to Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish club have agreed a £34 million deal in principle to sign the 28-year-old central defender, although the transfer is still yet to be officially announced by Atletico Madrid.
Romero, an Argentina international who spent five seasons at Tottenham, expressed his gratitude to the club and supporters in an emotional post on social media.
"Today, I say goodbye to a place that, for five seasons, was much more than a club," Romero wrote on Instagram. "It was my home, my challenge and the place where my family and I built such an important part of our lives."
"I leave with a heart full of memories and enormous pride for everything we lived and achieved together," he added. "When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club's history. I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it."
Cristian Romero confirmed his Tottenham departure ahead of a move to Atletico Madrid.
Farewell Message to Fans
Reflecting on his time with Spurs, Romero acknowledged that his spell was not entirely smooth, but insisted he gave everything for the team.
"The journey wasn't perfect, but I don't want that to define my goodbye," Romero wrote. "I choose to remember the happy moments, the lessons, the people who stood by me and, above all, the love I received during these five years."
"Thank you to everyone at the club who shared this journey with me," he continued. "Coaches, teammates, staff and every person working behind the scenes you are all part of my story and have a place in my heart."
Addressing the supporters directly, Romero thanked the fanbase for their backing throughout his five years in north London.
"And to the fans: Thank you for loving me, respecting me and making me feel like one of you from day one. Thank you for every hug, every song, every flag, every applause and for always being there," he wrote.
"I know I wasn't perfect, but one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart."
"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I'm leaving the club, but a part of my heart will always remain here," Romero concluded. "Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever. With all my love and respect."
Rival Interest and Squad Changes
Daily Mail Sport reported that Premier League champions Arsenal had contacted the agents of the Tottenham captain to inquire about potential transfer terms.
However, Tottenham were unaware of Arsenal's interest and were unwilling to sell the 28-year-old defender to their north London rivals.
Romero was permitted to leave Spurs for the right fee after the club bolstered their defensive ranks earlier in the transfer window.
Tottenham signed defender Marcos Senesi on a free transfer and secured Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £52 million deal.
Those additions leave Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi well stocked in central defense for the upcoming season following Romero's departure.
