Gary Neville believes Tottenham’s allowing Cristian Romero to return to Argentina this week was a decision that was symptomatic of a club in disaray.
The Spurs skipper suffered a season-ending injury against Sunderland last month and has been unable to aid his side’s hopes of beating the drop.
Roberto De Zerbi’s men face Everton on the final day knowing they will maintain their Premier League status should they match West Ham’s result against Leeds.
Romero will be in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but his presence was in doubt earlier this week having been given permission to return to Argentina to continue his rehabilitation from a knee issue ahead of the World Cup
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‘I don’t want to answer about Romero, about (Dejan) Kulusevski,’ said De Zerbi in his pre-match press conference.
‘They can’t play, they don’t play and they are not here. My focus is on Djed Spence, on (Randal) Kolo Muani, on Richarlison.
‘We have to play and to play with blood, with character and with spirit because it’s a final. They played a great final last season and they won a trophy.
‘Maybe there was a bonus, no? After tomorrow, there is not a trophy, there is not a bonus, there is something more important than a trophy and a bonus, there is the future of the club.
‘There is the history of the club, there is the pride of the players, there is the pride of the family of the players, there is the dignity of every one of us, and for that, I can’t lose energy thinking about the next season.’
Romero’s decision to go back to his homeland has sparked anger amongst the fanbase and Neville feels a measure of sympathy for supporters who have seen their club mismanaged on almost every level.
(Credits: Ryan Browne/Tottenham Hotspur FC/Shutterstock)
He said: ‘It’s another something Tottenham fans can look at and think there’s another disconnect.
‘They are coming here today to support their team and the captain or the club is considering not be here for the last game of the season. Bad decision. Poor choice.
‘What are you thinking? Did you not think he’d been spotted back in Argentina? Did you not think he’d be seen as missing in action?
‘It’s symptomatic of poor decision making, it’s something they’ve corrected and he’s going to be here but everyone knows originally the decision was not for him to be here.’