Romero isn’t waiting for Barcelona. Barça still don’t know if they want him

Cristian Romero isn’t rejecting offers while sitting by the phone and waiting for a call from Barcelona. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Argentine has no agreement with Barça and isn’t delaying a potential move to Inter because of the Catalan club. Barcelona have simply entered the story before making an actual decision. Again.

The club aren’t even certain that they will sign a centre-back this summer. Someone must leave first, money has to be found and only then can Barça decide whether Romero is the right target. The usual order: a big name, plenty of headlines, a financial check and finally the question of whether the transfer makes any sense.

Financial terms are holding up Romero’s talks with Inter. Romano reports that the 28-year-old isn’t demanding €7.5–8 million net per season, but wants a salary similar to the one he earns at Tottenham – reportedly around €5 million net. An agreement with Spurs is believed to be in place, although Inter can now assess the deal more calmly after signing John Stones.

Romero, then, isn’t waiting for Barcelona. That would be difficult when Barcelona themselves still don’t know whether they need a defender or merely enjoy seeing his name in the Catalan press.