Tottenham 'fork out' to fly Cristian Romero back after accusations from player

Tottenham Hotspur have arranged a private charter flight to bring defender Cristian Romero back from international duty with Argentina to London, aiming to prevent a repeat of last season's club versus country conflict. This decision comes ahead of their Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday, following the international break.

Last season, Tottenham faced issues when they did not provide a charter flight for Romero after Argentina's World Cup qualifier loss to Colombia, leading Romero to suggest on social media that this gave rivals Arsenal an advantage, as their Brazilian players returned earlier via charter. Although Tottenham disputed this, stating it would not have impacted performance, they have now opted to pay for the flight after Argentina's friendly with Puerto Rico in Miami to ensure Romero arrives with ample time before the Villa match.

The Telegraph reports that Spurs are covering the cost to avoid any potential disadvantage, as Romero's international teammate Emiliano Martinez will be playing for Aston Villa. Typically, national teams handle flight schedules, but English clubs often share costs for long journeys. Last year's omission resulted in public criticism from Romero, who reposted claims about Arsenal's advantage, but the club has since changed its approach, also having done so for a previous match after the last international break.

Additionally, Romero, who recently signed a new deal making him the club's highest earner, has little reason for discontent, with Tottenham performing well under manager Thomas Frank, recording four wins, two draws, and one loss in their first seven Premier League games. The team is close behind Arsenal and Liverpool in the standings, and Romero's defensive efforts were key in a recent 3-0 win over West Ham United after a similar charter flight arrangement.