The former Tottenham Hotspur captain has picked out one of his former team-mates for praise during a new interview in Spain

Cristian Romero has picked out his former Tottenham team-mate Micky van de Ven as the defender he has enjoyed the best relationship with during his career.

Romero left Spurs for Atletico Madrid this summer for £34.2million, including add-ons, with a 15 per cent sell-on clause for future profit if the La Liga outfit sell him. The Argentine spent five years in north London and departed after playing 156 games for the club across that time, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists, while receiving six red cards during his time in England.

In the final three years of his Tottenham tenure, Romero, who was named captain of the club in his final season and has just succeeded Lionel Messi as Argentina skipper, played alongside Van de Ven, who arrived in 2023 from Wolfsburg in a deal that could eventually rise to £43million.

When the 28-year-old was asked in a recent interview in Spain who he had enjoyed the best defensive relationship with on the pitch during his career, Romero immediately turned to the Dutchman.

"At the club level, at Tottenham, I got to share a lot with Micky van de Ven and I feel that he was impressive," he told Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul. "He is an incredible player and he has everything.

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"I think obviously it will depend on him, because he is young, where and what he wants to do for his career because he has it all. He has speed, he plays the ball, he is fast, he defends well, defends high, plays well with his feet, is technical.

"Truthfully at club level, I feel he has been a team-mate that understood me very well from day one and who elevated me, I elevated him and I also have a very good relationship [with him]. He’s a very good centre-back."

Like Romero did in 2025, Van de Ven signed a new contract this summer and was handed the captaincy to replace the Argentine. The Dutchman is now mostly playing alongside his compatriot and long time Netherlands international team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke, after his £52million arrival from Brighton to replace Romero.