Chelsea midfielder Valentin Barco has revealed the Argentina international he would like the club to sign, identifying Atletico Madrid defender Cristian Romero as his preferred choice.

According to a report by The Athletic on Thursday, 5 November 2026, Barco named Romero when journalist Gaston Edul asked which player he would request Chelsea's owners to bring to Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old responded with a simple answer, saying "Cuti", referring to the defender's popular nickname.

Barco has shared the Argentina dressing room with several high-profile players since establishing himself in the national team, including Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. However, he would welcome the opportunity to play alongside Romero at club level.

The 28-year-old centre-back recently ended his spell in English football by leaving Tottenham Hotspur for Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window.

Romero's time at Spurs included several difficult encounters against Chelsea. He faced the Blues eight times, winning just once, while suffering six defeats and recording one draw. He was also sent off during a meeting between the London rivals.

Despite his difficult record against Chelsea, the Argentine defender was considered an attractive option for clubs seeking defensive reinforcements.

Gary Neville previously expressed surprise that Chelsea did not pursue a move for Romero during the summer as they looked to strengthen their defence.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Chelsea were among several clubs monitoring the defender before his eventual move to Atletico Madrid. Inter Milan, Barcelona and Arsenal were also reportedly interested.

Chelsea eventually signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a £52 million deal. However, the French defender is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the remainder of 2026.

Romero's potential arrival would have been complicated by the rivalry between Chelsea and Tottenham, although relations between the clubs have shown signs of improvement.

Spurs signed Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea, while Mykhailo Mudryk also joined Roberto De Zerbi's side on loan.

Nevertheless, selling Tottenham's captain to Chelsea would have represented a considerably different situation.