In the world of football, everyone has an opinion. Fans, journalists, and former players all love to debate who is playing well and who is not.
Sometimes, a player can be praised by one person and criticized by another, all for the same reasons. This is exactly what is happening right now with Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero.
He is a player who seems to split opinion right down the middle, making it difficult to find a consensus on how good he really is.
The latest person to weigh in on this debate is former England defender Joleon Lescott. During a recent discussion, he was asked a straightforward but tricky question: who is the most overrated player in the Premier League at the moment?
After a little joke aimed at a Chelsea player, Lescott settled on his real answer: Cristian Romero. To call a player “overrated” is a strong statement.
It suggests that you believe the player’s reputation is much higher than his actual performances deserve. For a defender who is a regular for a top club and a World Cup winner with Argentina, this is a bold claim to make.
What makes this opinion so interesting is that it stands in complete contrast to the view of someone who knows Romero better than almost anyone: his own teammate.
Just a few months ago, Tottenham midfielder James Maddison was asked to name his most underrated teammate. Without hesitation, he chose Cristian Romero.
Maddison went out of his way to defend his teammate’s reputation. He argued that in England, Romero is often seen as a hot-headed player who is a liability because he can get red cards.
But Maddison sees the opposite. He sees a “top, top centre-back” whose quality is not fully appreciated by the public. He pointed to Romero’s biggest achievement winning the World Cup as proof of his high level.
So, how can two knowledgeable football people have such completely different views of the same player? The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.
The truth about Cristian Romero is that he is not a consistently steady defender. His game is based on passion, aggression, and a willingness to take risks. This style of play leads to moments of pure brilliance.
He can make a last-ditch tackle that saves a certain goal, or he can start an attack with a powerful run and a precise pass. When he is fully focused and his timing is perfect, he looks like one of the best defenders in the league.
However, that same aggressive style can also be his biggest weakness. There are times when his passion spills over and he makes a reckless challenge, giving away a unnecessary foul or even getting sent off.
There are moments when he goes for an interception and misses, leaving his team exposed at the back. This inconsistency is what creates such divided opinions. One week, he is a heroic figure who dominates the opposition striker. The next week, he might be the reason his team concedes a goal.
This is why Romero will always be a player who divides opinion. If you value passion, fight, and game-changing defensive actions, you will probably think he is a fantastic player, perhaps even underrated.
If you prefer a defender who is calm, positionally perfect, and rarely makes a mistake, you might view him as a liability, and therefore, overrated. It all depends on what you look for in a centre-back. His own teammate sees a world-class defender.
A pundit sees an overrated risk-taker. Both views are based on real aspects of his game. For Tottenham fans, the hope is that the brilliant Romero shows up more often than the reckless one. In the end, that is what will truly define his career, far more than any argument between pundits.
