Inter's Romero deal at risk as Atlético prepare rival bid
Quick summary
Atlético Madrid are preparing a rival offer for Romero, threatening Inter Milan's pursuit of the player.
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Attributed to original sourceInter’s move for Cristian Romero is under threat, with Atlético Madrid preparing to gatecrash the deal for the Tottenham defender.
According to calciomercato.it , Inter, still searching for reinforcements at the back despite the arrival of John Stones, have advanced a deal for Romero, agreeing a fee of around €40m with Tottenham as well as personal terms worth roughly €5.5m a year.
The complication is that the Nerazzurri cannot complete the move until they have offloaded Benjamin Pavard to free up space and funds.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – JULY 10: Cristian Romero #13 of Argentina attends a training session one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match at Sporting Kansas City Training Centre on July 10, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) Atlético’s Molina and Ruggeri sales fund Romero bid as Inter wait That delay is the opening Atlético hope to exploit. Flush with the proceeds of two sales, Nahuel Molina to Roma and Matteo Ruggeri to Aston Villa , Diego Simeone’s side are preparing an initial budget of more than €30m to try to sign the Argentine.
And they may hold a decisive advantage: according to Marca, while Romero does not object to a move to Milan, he would prefer to join Simeone’s Atlético over Inter.
Tottenham, for their part, had given the green light to Inter’s proposal of €35m plus €5m in bonuses, and are unlikely to accept a lower figure from Atlético than the one already agreed with the Serie A champions.
That offers Inter a measure of protection, but with the deal stalled on Pavard’s exit and the player leaning towards Spain, the Nerazzurri’s hopes of landing the World Cup winner are no longer as secure as they once seemed.
For Cristian Chivu, who used Andy Diouf at right-back in the Perth derby as he continues to seek an heir to Denzel Dumfries, resolving the defence has become an increasingly pressing task.
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What happened
Inter Milan had been advancing on a deal to sign Romero, but Atlético Madrid have now entered the race with a rival bid. The competition for the player could complicate or derail Inter's negotiations. The bidding war highlights the growing market for the player, with both Serie A and La Liga clubs interested in acquiring his services.
Chance analysis
This is a competitive transfer situation where Inter face genuine risk of losing their target to Atlético Madrid. A bidding war typically benefits the selling club, potentially driving up the price. For Inter, losing this target would force a pivot to alternative options late in the window, affecting squad planning. The outcome will depend on the player's preference and financial offers from both clubs.
Atlético's intervention threatens Inter's planned signing, potentially forcing Inter to either raise their offer or pursue alternative targets.
If Inter lose Romero, their defensive/midfield reinforcement plans may be delayed; monitor for confirmation of the player's destination before predicting Inter's squad strength.