Tottenham have ruled out selling Cristian Romero to Arsenal, and Roberto De Zerbi says he is still planning for the defender’s return to London. The latest update leaves Atletico Madrid as the likeliest destination, with Inter still in the picture and Arsenal effectively shut out.

Tottenham's stance on Arsenal

The key line is simple. Tottenham have officially ruled out selling Romero to Arsenal this summer, even after Arsenal explored a surprise move when William Saliba suffered a serious back problem. That alone is enough to change the shape of the story, because it removes the most dramatic domestic option.

De Zerbi's quote points in the same direction. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "I texted with Cuti yesterday to make a plan for when he comes back to London but not for the transfer market. That's not my job. I know there are many solutions in the transfer market."

Tottenham's valuation also tells its own story. The club have already agreed a €40m (£34m) deal with Inter, but personal terms are still not finalised. talkSPORT has gone further and said Spurs are prepared to sell for £35m, which would mean an £8m loss on the permanent fee they previously paid.

Romero's recent numbers are steady rather than spectacular, which probably suits the clubs involved. His last 10 club appearances sit at a 6.9 average rating, while his 2026 all-comps season rating is 7.16. Spurs may be open to a sale, but they are not dealing from a position of having to get rid of a player who has suddenly gone off the boil.

Atletico Madrid look the likeliest exit

The more convincing part of the market picture is in Spain. Sky Sports reported that Atletico Madrid have made progress with sales of Matteo Ruggeri and Nahuel Molina, which gives them room to approach Tottenham. They finished 4th in La Liga in 2025, so this is not a sideways move to a lesser stage.

That is where the contrast with Inter matters. Inter are still reported to have a deal in place with Tottenham, but the personal terms remain unresolved. Atletico, by contrast, sound like the club making the cleaner run at Romero’s signature.

Tottenham’s own situation adds to the willingness to listen. Spurs finished 17th in the 2025 Premier League table, and that is the backdrop for a summer in which they can reshape parts of the squad without pretending every decision is purely sentimental. Romero remains a strong player, but all the reporting points away from Arsenal and towards an exit abroad.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →