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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Lionel Messi wanted Barcelona to sign Cristian Romero</li><li>Voted Serie A's best defender in 2021</li><li>Joined Spurs instead &amp; won Europa League</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Barcelona left with Lionel Messi advice regret after former transfer target leads Tottenham to Europa League glory

<p>According to Xavier Bosch (h/t <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20250523/1002469767/partidazo-cuti-romero-le-da-razon-leo-messi.html" target="_blank">MundoDeportivo</a>), before Messi joined PSG, he wanted Barcelona president to sign Cristian Romero, who was playing for Atalanta at that time and had been voted Serie A's best defender for the 2020-21 season.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Messi wanted to bring in the Argentine defender, as he considered him a necessity for the club at a time when the Catalan side was experiencing shortcomings in defence, with Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti both out of action. However, the Barcelona president did not heed Messi's suggestion, and the Argentine star later went on to sign for PSG in 2021.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Romero captained Tottenham Hotspur to their first European title in 17 years. The Argentine international was named the <a href="https://www.goal.com/lists/cristian-romero-wins-europa-league-player-of-season-tottenham-four-players-named-team-tournament-glory/blt74fb27eb189773b6#cs51924e09e253b007" target="_blank">tournament's best player by the UEFA Technical Observer Group</a>. Romero was also named as the man of the match in the Europa final against Manchester United in Bilbao.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>The Argentine hero has been a transfer target for Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Reportedly, coach Xabi Alonso is a "big fan" of the Spurs defender. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/atletico-madrid-tottenham-cristian-romero-julian-alvarez-tells-club-to-sign-argentine-team-mate/bltc8ff3e812a1394e1#cs4aa0633bf1be0785" target="_self"></a><a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/atletico-madrid-tottenham-cristian-romero-julian-alvarez-tells-club-to-sign-argentine-team-mate/bltc8ff3e812a1394e1#cs4aa0633bf1be0785">Atletico's Julian Alvarez has openly shown hope and wishes that the Argentine joins Atleti</a>. The Premier League concludes on 25 May, with Spurs set to face Brighton.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIAN ROMERO?

Barcelona left with Lionel Messi advice regret after former transfer target leads Tottenham to Europa League glory | Goal.com

Barcelona may be left ruing a transfer decision that saw them decline Lionel Messi&apos;s advice to sign one of his Argentina team-mates.