Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has openly questioned Cristian Romero’s suitability as a captain, admitting he would be completely indifferent if the club chose to cash in on the Argentine defender this summer.
Jenas, who served as vice-captain during his time at White Hart Lane, slammed Romero’s disciplinary record at the tail end of a bruising season.
The former England star expressed immense frustration that it was left to teenage prodigy Archie Gray to shoulder the burden and front up for the club during a chaotic domestic campaign, rather than the team’s senior international figureheads.
The 21-cap former international also reacted to the news of Pedro Porro committing his peak years to N17, praising the Spaniard’s decision to lock down a new long-term deal through to 2031.
Jenas also called for England defender Djed Spence to be handed a proper run in the side by Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi to offer a more traditional defensive balance.
Romero can’t be relied upon
During an exclusive conversation with 10bet, Jenas said of Romero: “I just don’t think you can rely on him as a captain. I don’t believe in him from a captain’s point of view or a leadership point of view.
“Do you have games where you look at Romero and go, ‘God, I’m glad he’s in my team’? Of course you do.
“But I just think some of his antics at the end of the season, you know, the sendings-off… it was just not what the club needed at that point.
“They needed somebody who could carry that club and take a lot on their chin.
“Instead, it ended up being Archie Gray – one of the youngest players at the club – who was carrying the can for a large period of time.
“I had Alan Shearer when I was at Newcastle. When I came to Spurs, I had Ledley King and Robbie Keane in captaincy roles.
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Where’s Wally?
“I was vice-captain at both clubs, so we never really had wallies, if you know what I mean.
“With Romero, look – the players probably like him, right? But there’s definitely a part of you that just looks at him and goes, ‘He’s not a captain.’
“So it’s hard for the players because they’re in the dressing room with him week-in, week-out, and I’m sure he riles them up and he’s there for them.
“It’s easy for me to talk from where I am now. But I still hear stuff – Tottenham is my club, I still hear things.
“And I know that if I was asked this question right now and I wasn’t hearing what I’m hearing from inside, then I’d be saying, ‘No, he’s top, keep him.’
“But I hear the opposite. So I wouldn’t be bothered if he stays or goes.”
Healthy competition
Porro recently committed his future to Spurs after signing a five-year deal and Jenas added: “I think there is healthy competition there with Djed Spence for the right-back spot, who I also like.
“I’d like to see Djed Spence get some solid game time at right-back to see what he’s about there.
“I think, as a pure defender, he offers something different to Porro.
“Going forward, he’s got a lot to offer that we don’t always get to see because so much of our play comes down the left-hand side.
“So it would be interesting to see how he gets on too at right-back.”
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Michael Davey