EPL: Gary Neville surprised Chelsea didn’t sign Cristian Romero
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville expressed surprise that Chelsea did not secure the signing of Cristian Romero during the summer transfer window.
Chelsea was active in the transfer market, investing over £300 million in more than ten new players, including three defenders: Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, and Pep Chavarria, as part of their effort to strengthen their defense.
Speaking on the podcast “The Overlap,” Neville noted that Romero, who formerly captained Tottenham Hotspur and has since transferred to Atletico Madrid, was a player Chelsea could have targeted.
“It may seem unusual, but I would have welcomed Cristian Romero in my squad; I am surprised Chelsea did not secure his signing,” Neville stated. He added that Tottenham might have been hesitant to sell to a rival but emphasized that his omission from Chelsea’s roster was unexpected.
Neville also remarked that Romero would have been a suitable addition to manager Xabi Alonso’s back-three formation. “I believed he would have been an excellent fit as that assertive center-back in a back-three setup,” he said.
Despite the missed opportunity with Romero, Chelsea has started the season strongly, winning both of their matches and scoring at least three goals in each match against Fulham and Brighton. Cole Palmer has shown a resurgence in form, demonstrating strong chemistry with Joao Pedro and new recruit Morgan Rogers, making Chelsea’s attack one of the most potent in the Premier League.
The team’s upcoming fixture against defending champions Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in gameweek three presents a significant challenge.
