Inter Milan are in contact with Cristian Romero’s entourage as the 28-year-old pushes for a return to Serie A, but Tottenham are holding firm at a €50m asking price, and that figure, combined with the player’s wage demands, makes this a long way from a straightforward deal.
The Romero Fee Problem Is Real
Romero arrived at Spurs from Atalanta in a deal completed in 2021 that ultimately totalled around €53.8m, so the current €50m valuation is essentially Tottenham demanding they break even, or close to it, on a player whose contract runs to June 2029. That leverage is significant. Spurs are not in a position where they need to sell, and they have a long-term contract to point to if any suitor tries to push the price down.
His wage demands are described by the primary source only as a big obstacle for Inter, no specific figure has been confirmed publicly, and any number circulating should be treated with caution until attributed to a named source. What is clearer is that the combination of fee and wages creates a dual financial hurdle that Inter, as currently structured, would struggle to clear without major outgoing business first.
Inter’s transfer activity this summer is worth watching in that context. The club have already been linked with Premier League targets, which suggests ambition but also raises questions about where the budget sits for a deal of this scale.
Romero Wants Out, But Inter Are Not The Only Suitor
Both Tottenham and Romero have accepted that a parting is coming this summer. The Argentinian, who limped off during the 2026 World Cup Final with Argentina, had already decided before the tournament that he would be moving on at club level. His feelings about life at Spurs hardened during what was a miserable season for the club, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League under new manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Romero has captained Tottenham since 2024 and was central to the club’s Europa League win in 2025, which makes this a significant departure rather than a squad player edging toward the exit. Reports from Fabrizio Romano suggest Romero’s own preference is actually a return to Spain, with Barcelona the club he favours, while Atletico Madrid have also made contact through manager Diego Simeone. Inter’s interest reportedly emerged after being raised separately during talks over full-back Djed Spence, rather than as a standalone pursuit from the start.
Romero’s Serie A roots are well-established regardless of which club eventually wins the race. He arrived at Genoa in 2018 before moving on to Juventus and then Atalanta, where he built the reputation that eventually attracted Spurs.
Spurs’ Position And The Transfer Dynamic
Tottenham’s stance is entirely rational from a selling club’s perspective. Romero is one of their few genuinely marketable assets at elite-level prices, and with a contract stretching to 2029, they have no structural pressure to discount. A €50m sale would recover the majority of their original outlay rather than absorbing a loss on one of their highest-profile signings of recent years.
The Napoli-Tottenham market has shown similar dynamics recently, with valuation gaps between Serie A clubs and Spurs proving persistent across multiple targets this window. The pattern of an Italian club wanting a player while the English club refuses to budge on price is not new territory.
The Verdict
The talks are real, the player’s desire to leave is genuine, and Tottenham’s asking price is firm. What is less certain is which suitor actually wins this race. Inter face a genuine funding question on top of Romero’s wages, while Barcelona appear to be his personal first choice and Atletico Madrid are also circling. Until one of those three clubs moves from contact to a formal bid, this story sits at confirmed interest rather than an imminent transfer.
