In a move that has intensified scrutiny of Tottenham Hotspurâs direction under manager Thomas Frank, club captain Cristian Romero has publicly labelled the clubâs threadbare squad situation as âunbelievableâ and âdisgraceful.â
The Argentine defenderâs pointed social media comments, made following a 2-2 draw with Manchester City and the closure of a quiet January transfer window, highlight a growing frustration within the camp as the team battles a severe injury crisis and dismal domestic form.
The outburst came via Instagram on Monday evening, shortly after the winter transfer deadline passed.
Romero, who played through illness before being substituted at halftime against City, praised his teammates’ effort in battling back from two goals down but directed sharp criticism at the club’s hierarchy.
“I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasnât feeling well, especially as we had only 11 players available – unbelievable but true and disgraceful,” Romero wrote.
The post, which included a facepalm emoji, was liked by several teammates, including Pedro Porro, James Maddison, and goalscorer Dominic Solanke, suggesting shared discontent.
This is not the first time the 27-year-old World Cup winner has used social media to voice his frustrations.
In early January, following a defeat to Bournemouth, he posted a message stating that at difficult times “it should be other people coming out to speak, but they donât⌠they only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies”.
While he later deleted the reference to “lies,” the post remained a clear indictment of the club’s communication.
Manager Thomas Frank, who has previously defended his captain from disciplinary action, acknowledged the need for private conversations. “When youâre a young leader sometimes you make mistakes. It is good to keep it internal,” Frank said, confirming the pair had spoken.
Romero’s latest criticism is framed by a season of stark contradiction and struggle for Spurs. The team is mired in 14th place in the Premier League, having won just two of their last fifteen matches and amassing only ten points at home all season.
Their performance in the first half against Manchester City was described as “shambolic,” leaving them facing a potential relegation battle before Solanke’s second-half brace secured a draw.
This domestic turmoil exists in bizarre parallel with a successful UEFA Champions League campaign, where Spurs have shown resilience to secure a place in the knockout stages, creating a confusing “tale of two Tottenhams”.
The core of Romero’s complaint is a debilitating injury list that has left Frank with severely limited options. For the City match, the manager was without eleven players, forcing him to field a depleted side.
The crisis has been exacerbated by a January transfer window that saw only two first-team additions: midfielder Conor Gallagher and teenage left-back Souza. The club also sold last season’s top scorer, Brennan Johnson, to Crystal Palace.
Frank has defended the club’s strategic approach, stating the market is “not Football Manager” and revealing a failed bid for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who instead joined City and scored against Spurs. “The club are working relentlessly,” Frank insisted, pointing to a disciplined strategy focused on long-term targets rather than short-term fixes.
As Tottenham heads into a punishing February fixture list against Manchester United, Newcastle, and Arsenal, Romero’s comments have cast a harsh light on the internal tensions at the club.
With the captainâs commitment previously questioned after past comments expressing a desire to play in Spain’s La Liga, his latest broadside raises further questions about unity and the board’s strategy to reverse a worrying decline that threatens to overshadow their European ambitions.