Ange Postecoglou confirms Tottenham could block Cristian Romero from playing in the Olympics

Defender has made clear his desire to represent Argentina at Paris Games this summer
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP29 March 2024

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says the club could block Cristian Romero from playing for Argentina at the Olympics and will "strongly" advise the defender to rest instead.

Romero has said he would "love" to be one of his country's three over-23 picks for the tournament at the Paris Games, which runs from July 24 to August 10 -- finishing just a week before the start of the new Premier League season.

The Spurs vice-captain is already certain to be included in Argentina's squad for the Copa America, starting in mid-June and concluding on July 15, and Postecoglou wants Romero to be fresh for the "big season" ahead.

"Olympics is a little bit of a different issue because club's aren't obliged to let players go to the Olympics," Postecoglou said.

"From that perspective, we have a little bit more of a say in it than other internationals. Certainly from our behalf as a club, we'll always be looking at making sure there is a balance there.

"He hasn't spoken to me about it, no one has spoken to me about it but I guess pretty strong advice would be with the Copa America at the same time and hopefully us gearing up for a big season next year, I'd be suggesting rest is a better policy."

Tottenham's controversial plans for a post-season friendly against Newcastle in Melbourne on May 22, three days after the end of the campaign, have already increased the demands on their internationals ahead of the summer tournaments.

Postecoglou says he was involved in the decision to visit his hometown and insists the club carefully weighed up the pros and cons.

"I guess with all these decisions there's always going to be conjecture and scrutiny around why they're made," he said.

"But from our perspective, like any club, you weigh up the benefits and costs of doing something. For one reason or another, we haven't had a lot of games this year and there was a unique opportunity for us to have a game at the end of the year.

"I'm obviously part of that discussion and we are mindful of the players and the schedule. We weighed it all up and thought it was going to be really beneficial for us as a football club, and we've gone that way."

Spurs return to action with a visit from Luton Town on Saturday and Postecoglou expects the struggling Hatters to have a go at his side, who are aiming to bounce back from a chastening 3-0 defeat at Fulham before the international break.

"You hear a lot of coaches say they're going to go all-out attack but Rob [Edwards, Luton boss] backs up his words with action," Postecoglou said.

"When I've seen them play against City or Liverpool or Arsenal, any of the top clubs, they've still gone out and been really aggressive. They're going to be really aggressive against us and we've got to be ready for it.

"I said after the [Fulham] game we didn't work as hard as we had been in other games.

"It was probably the first game this year where I felt our competitive level were not where they should have been and when they're not, you'll pay a price. We did on the day and I thought Fulham were good.

"We addressed it with the guys and we'll have to get back up to where we have been for a tough game tomorrow."

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