Atletico Madrid target Cristian Romero to help win over unsettled Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid believe the potential signing of Cristian Romero from Tottenham could serve two purposes: strengthening Diego Simeone’s defence and helping persuade Julian Alvarez to remain at the club.

The Spanish side have been pursuing their main transfer-market objective for more than a year and are now understood to be making serious progress in their efforts to bring Romero to the club.

According to Marca, Romero’s leadership would make him an indispensable figure in Atletico’s team. His arrival would immediately raise the standard of the defence while also increasing competition for places across the squad.

However, the Argentina international is also being viewed as an unexpected solution to the uncertainty surrounding Alvarez’s future.

Romero and Alvarez are close friends through their Argentina connection. Despite the three-year age difference between them, the pair have developed a strong relationship, with the defender believed to have considerable influence over the forward.

That is why Atletico expect Romero to act as an “ally” as Alvarez attempts to navigate a difficult period at the club.

Alvarez has previously made clear his admiration for Romero. In his first interview after moving to Spain, he told Marca that Romero was the best defender he had ever faced.

The prospect of playing alongside a player he has long wanted as a team-mate could therefore make Atletico’s project more attractive to Alvarez, particularly as the club seeks to compete with leading European sides.

Romero’s presence could also encourage Alvarez to abandon any intention of moving to Barcelona.

The defender, known by the nickname “Cuti”, is expected to provide an important source of support inside the dressing room. That could be especially valuable during the first months of what is described as a hostile relationship between Alvarez and the supporters, as well as the wider atmosphere around each match.

Atletico believe Romero’s experience and leadership could give the player known as “the Spider” the guidance needed to deal with the situation.

The most important objective, however, would be to help Alvarez win back the goodwill of the fans through his performances on the pitch.

Optimism is growing at Atletico that negotiations with Tottenham will eventually result in a deal for Romero worth about 40m euros. The club are also increasingly confident that the issue surrounding Alvarez can gradually return to normal.

The proposed transfer would consequently represent more than a defensive signing. Atletico see Romero as a leader capable of improving their back line, a proven international team-mate for Alvarez and a trusted figure who could help the forward rebuild his relationship with the club and its supporters.

For now, the Spanish side’s plan depends on completing the agreement with Tottenham. But they believe the arrival of Romero could have a direct impact both on their squad and on Alvarez’s decision about his future.