Cuti Romero presented at Atlético Madrid, aims for history

Cristian 'Cuti' Romero was officially presented as an Atlético de Madrid player on Thursday, signing a contract until 2031 after arriving from Tottenham Hotspur. The Argentine defender, presented at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano auditorium, will wear the number 21 jersey, which was ceded by Obed Vargas Source: La Voz.

Ambitions and role

Romero stated he wants to "leave my name engraved in the history of the club" and that the only way to do so is "winning." He also revealed that coach Diego Simeone asked him to be "a leader on the pitch" and help his teammates, especially the younger ones Source: Infobae. Club president Enrique Cerezo welcomed him as "one of the best centre-backs on the international scene," praising his "courage and heart" Source: Infobae.

On Julián Álvarez

Asked about compatriot Julián Álvarez, Romero said he sees him "very well" and "very committed," adding that Álvarez is "a kid with the desire to keep scoring goals and entertaining the people" Source: Clarín. This comes amid reports that Barcelona had shown interest in Álvarez, but Simeone has reiterated that he is a fundamental piece and ruled out his departure Source: Diario Libre.

Debut pending

Romero, who has only had four training sessions, was not included in the squad for the opening LaLiga match against Málaga, which Atlético won. Simeone explained that the defender needs more training to reach the physical level of the rest of the squad Source: La Voz. Romero himself acknowledged that playing in LaLiga was a pending challenge in his career, having already played in Italy and England Source: Clarín.