Tottenham Hotspur face a leadership vacuum this summer after confirming the departure of Cristian Romero, who has completed a £34.2million transfer to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine defender's exit leaves manager Roberto De Zerbi with a significant decision to make over who will wear the armband heading into the new campaign.
Romero's tenure as captain was far from smooth. Spurs lacked consistent leadership on the pitch last season, with the centre-back frequently letting his side down through needless red cards and controversial moments on social media. His departure gives De Zerbi an opportunity to reset the leadership structure at the club, a process already underway through the club's transfer business. The additions of Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Sandro Tonali are seen as moves designed to inject greater experience and composure into the squad, qualities De Zerbi has been eager to build upon since taking charge.
However, identifying a natural successor to Romero is not straightforward, as Tottenham's current squad does not have an abundance of obvious leadership candidates. Among the names being considered, Micky van de Ven stands out as one option. The Dutch defender was given added responsibility last term when he deputised as captain in Romero's absence, though his performances in that role were inconsistent. A red card during a pivotal relegation battle against Crystal Palace in March exposed some of his shortcomings, particularly his tendency to become distracted by his own frustrations during difficult periods. Despite this, Van de Ven remains a highly regarded figure in the dressing room, having earned a place in Thomas Frank's leadership group last October, and at 25 years old, he could grow into the captaincy if trusted with the role.
Pedro Porro is another candidate under consideration. The Spanish full-back was instrumental in Tottenham's dramatic fight to avoid relegation, delivering a standout performance against Everton on the final day of the season as Spurs secured their Premier League status. His efforts were rewarded with a new five-year contract in June, and despite interest from other clubs, he is expected to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Porro already has experience captaining the side, having done so on one occasion last season, and he is likely to be given further leadership duties regardless of whether he is handed the armband outright.
James Maddison represents a third possibility. The midfielder's return from injury toward the end of last season had a galvanising effect on the squad, even though his direct influence on matches was limited by fitness. Spurs collected 11 points from their final six league games as Maddison's presence lifted the group. He is well liked within the squad and possesses many of the traits associated with leadership, but his history of injury setbacks, including a disrupted pre-season this summer, raises questions over his reliability as a week-to-week starter — a factor that could count against him in De Zerbi's eyes.
De Zerbi's managerial history offers some clues as to his preferences. During his time at Marseille and Brighton, he predominantly handed the captaincy to central defenders, with Leonardo Balerdi and Lewis Dunk both wearing the armband under him. That said, his earlier spell at Sassuolo showed he is willing to entrust more attack-minded players with leadership responsibilities, having given the captaincy to both Domenico Berardi and Francesco Caputo at different points.
With the new Premier League season fast approaching, De Zerbi is expected to make his decision soon, balancing experience, reliability and standing within the squad as he looks to restore stability to Tottenham's leadership after a turbulent campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.