Cristian Romero blasts Tottenham as ‘disgraceful’ in angry Instagram post after deadline day

Last Updated on 3 February 2026

Tottenham’s injury crisis has finally sparked a public flashpoint, and it has come from the captain himself. Cristian Romero didn’t mince his words after Spurs limped through a 2-2 draw with Manchester City with a skeleton squad.

The Argentine centre-back described the situation as “unbelievable” and “disgraceful”, laying bare the strain inside the dressing room after another chaotic month off the pitch.

With Tottenham, already drifting down the Premier League table, Romero’s comments feel less like an outburst, and more like a warning.

Cristian Romero goes public again as Spurs run out of bodies

Cristian Romero revealed that Tottenham had just 11 senior players available for Sunday’s draw. It’s a reality shaped by injuries, January exits and limited recruitment. The 27-year-old himself was forced to withdraw through illness, yet still wanted to make himself available.

In an Instagram post that quickly gained traction, Romero praised his teammates’ effort before turning his frustration toward the situation around them. His message was clear: this squad is being stretched beyond breaking point.

It is not the first time Romero has taken aim publicly. Only weeks earlier, he accused members of the club’s hierarchy of “only showing up when things are going well”. His comment was later edited but not forgotten.

He has also criticised Tottenham’s transfer policy in the past. Romero warned that a lack of investment was causing Spurs to fall behind their rivals. However, Thomas Frank has since suggested such issues should remain “internal”.

Why Tottenham didn’t fix their squad depth in January

Romero’s anger stems from a brutal reality. Tottenham are the most injury-hit side in the Premier League, with 13 players currently sidelined, many long-term.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been unavailable all season, while key figures like Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison, Pedro Porro and Ben Davies are also out.

Despite this, Spurs made just two senior additions in January: Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid and teenage Brazilian defender Souza from Santos. Deadline day brought in 18-year-old James Wilson on loan, but only for the under-21s.

The club did explore reinforcements, including a move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, but he chose Manchester City instead. Internally, Tottenham’s stance is that January offered poor value, with belief that better long-term options will be available in the summer.

That strategy, however, offers little comfort now. Spurs sit 14th in the league, closer to the relegation zone than Europe, and Frank faces further selection headaches ahead of a trip to Manchester United.

Romero may insist he is “very happy” at Tottenham and deny wanting a move, but when a captain repeatedly speaks out, it is rarely just noise.