Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has publicly advocated for his former club to make a move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero, in a surprising twist following the Argentine's recent red card against the Red Devils.
Scholes' Bold Transfer Plea
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes expressed his admiration for the 27-year-old centre-back, despite Romero being sent off in Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last Saturday. 'Do you know what? I love him,' Scholes declared. 'I love watching him play football. He's pissed off at Spurs, isn't he? He doesn't want to be there. He's having a go at the crowd, he's having a go at the board, I think his head has checked out a little bit. But I would love him at Manchester United. I just love his character.'
Romero's Turbulent Season
The Tottenham captain's dismissal for a high and late tackle on United midfielder Casemiro marked his second red card of the campaign, resulting in a four-match suspension that will see him miss crucial fixtures, including the north London derby against Arsenal. This incident occurred shortly after Romero criticised the Spurs board, labelling it 'disgraceful' that only 11 senior players were available for their recent 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Scholes believes these actions indicate Romero is mentally detached from the club. 'He's pissed off at Tottenham and has mentally checked out as he doesn't want to be there anymore,' the former England midfielder asserted, suggesting this discontent could make a transfer feasible.
Frank's Defence and Leadership Stance
Under-pressure Tottenham manager Thomas Frank defended his captain post-match, acknowledging Romero's need for growth while emphasising his leadership qualities. 'For me, I think he is a leader,' Frank stated. 'He is a young leader and he's learning every day. I've said I used the example when I was 30 years old. I thought I was on top of the world, but I was no way near the level I am today in terms of leadership and understanding things. And then when you have a player that's playing with so much passion and aggression, things like that can happen. That's not to say he shouldn't learn from it, of course he needs learn from it, going forward.'
Frank, who joined Spurs from Brentford last summer, confirmed he has no intention of stripping Romero of the captaincy, despite the defender's disciplinary issues and public criticisms.
Spurs' Struggles and Rooney's Support for Frank
Tottenham's defeat to United extended their winless run in the Premier League to seven games, intensifying scrutiny on Frank's position. However, former United striker Wayne Rooney has called for patience, expressing sympathy for the Danish manager. 'I feel for Frank because he looks tired – he looks like he's aged 10 years,' Rooney remarked on his BBC podcast. 'That's what that Tottenham job has done to him in a short period of time. I hope they stick with him because he's fantastic manager, but it's going be very difficult for them to do that.'
Romero's Tottenham Career
Since his £42.5 million transfer from Atalanta in 2022, Romero has made over 150 appearances for Tottenham, playing a key role in their Europa League triumph last season. His combative style and passion have made him a fan favourite, but his recent actions have sparked debate about his future at the club.
As the transfer speculation mounts, Scholes' comments add fuel to the fire, suggesting a potential high-profile move could be on the cards if Romero's dissatisfaction persists and Manchester United decide to act on the legend's recommendation.
