Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has confirmed that Cristian Romero will join the club permanently from Atalanta BC this summer.
The 23-year-old arrived in North London on an initial loan deal in the summer of 2021, and his signing was thought to have included a €50m ($43m) option to buy.
Romero made his return from a serious hamstring injury in the FA Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and Conte has now revealed that the Lilywhites possess an obligation rather than an option to buy in the summer.
"He's on loan but we have an obligation to buy. We bought him," Conte told reporters ahead of Wednesday's Premier League showdown with Southampton.
"He is perfect for this league. But if you can play in this league you can play in all the leagues in the world. The problem is when you stay in another league, you have to ask if you can play in the Premier League.
"But when you play here, you can play in any league in the world. Because the intensity, the quality, the physicality that you have here is not present in other leagues. For sure Romero is able to play in this league. This league is a perfect suit for him."
Romero has made 14 appearances for Spurs in all competitions this season and prepares to leave Atalanta after registering three goals and five assists in 42 games during the 2020-21 season.
