---
title: "Tottenham: Cristian Romero claims Lionel Messi wanted him at Barcelona"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-spurs-cristian-romero-lionel-messi-psg-nuno-espirito-santo/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-08-23T10:45:36Z"
modified: "2021-08-23T10:45:36Z"
---

# Tottenham: Cristian Romero claims Lionel Messi wanted him at Barcelona

**New Tottenham Hotspur signing Cristian Romero has revealed that Lionel Messi wanted him to make the move to Barcelona before he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain.**

### **The Lowdown: Spurs sign Romero**

Spurs captured Romero this summer from Atalanta – at €55m (£46.7m, as per [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/06/tottenham-sign-defender-cristian-romero-from-atalanta-in-55m-deal)), he is by far their biggest signing of the transfer window.

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Meanwhile, Messi has joined PSG after leaving Barcelona on a free transfer ([BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58163106)).

### **The Latest: Romero reveals Messi interest**

Speaking to Radio AM 550 ([via barcablaugranes.com](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2021/8/23/22636881/lionel-messi-wanted-me-to-come-to-barcelona-says-cristian-romero)), Romero revealed that his Argentina colleague Messi wanted him to move to the Camp Nou. The 23-year-old said:

> *“The fact that Messi would want me in his team, and that he wanted me to come to Barcelona is amazing.*
>
> *“The team that PSG have built is crazy. I’m a bit sad about how Leo left Barcelona, I thought he would have stayed there forever.*
>
> *“I wish him all the best, he’s a great person and hopefully he can win everything alongside the other Argentinians there.”*

### **The Verdict: Spurs get the best deal**

Barcelona’s financial troubles are seismic ([mirror.co.uk](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/barcelona-news-debt-messi-contract-24620522)) – that is the reason why Messi was unable to stay with the club in the first place – so the Blaugrana would surely have never have been able to pay such a big fee for the £31.5m-valued Argentina centre-back ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cristian-romero/marktwertverlauf/spieler/355915)).

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Fortunately, Spurs were able to sign the 23-year-old before anyone else could. He has made two appearances for the club so far, starting in the first leg of their 1-0 Europa Conference League defeat against Pacos Ferreira ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cristian-romero/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/355915)). While it has not been an astounding start for him, it will surely only get better for Romero in north London.

***In other news, [Tottenham want to sign this World Cup finalist.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-spurs-marcelo-brozovic-nuno-espirito-santo-inter-daniel-levy/)***