Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Darren Anderton has called on the club to sell current captain Cristian Romero and appoint Micky van de Ven as the new team leader. Romero, 28, who missed the final weeks of last season due to a knee ligament injury and recently represented Argentina at the World Cup, is reportedly attracting interest from Inter Milan and Barcelona. Meanwhile, Tottenham have bolstered their defence by signing Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.

Anderton criticized Romero’s commitment and leadership, referencing the player’s decision to attend his hometown team’s match instead of supporting Spurs during the last game of the previous season. “As a captain you’ve got to be reliable. He isn’t,” Anderton said, highlighting moments when Romero’s performances have been undermined by errors, including a costly red card in a match against Manchester United last season.

The Argentine defender was also involved in the controversial “Las Malvinas” incident following Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory over England in Atlanta, which intensified scrutiny around his conduct. Anderton suggested that Tottenham would benefit from moving on from Romero, calling it “the best thing for everyone.”

Looking ahead, Anderton expressed confidence in van de Ven’s potential to grow into a leadership role. He proposed positioning van de Ven as captain, supported by a well-organized defensive setup and strategic coaching. “I think he will be the best defender in the league,” Anderton said, adding that with responsibility, van de Ven could develop into a commanding presence on the pitch.

Tottenham currently face decisions on their defensive line and leadership structure as they prepare for the next season amidst transfer interest in key players.