Cristian Romero is set to be thousands of miles from north London when Tottenham Hotspur face Everton in the most consequential fixture of their season. The Spurs captain, sidelined since suffering a knee injury against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in April, has flown back to his native Argentina — and all the noises out of South America suggest he will be there when the final whistle blows on Sunday afternoon.

A win for Spurs against Everton at 16:00 on Sunday would guarantee Premier League safety. A draw should also be enough, given Tottenham's superior goal difference over West Ham United, who sit two points adrift in 18th place and need to beat Leeds United at home to have any realistic hope of survival. The stakes could not be higher for a club that has been ever-present in the top flight since 1978.

Romero, 28, has been Spurs' captain all season and earned enormous respect inside the dressing room. Since his injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign, he has remained in and around Roberto de Zerbi's squad, looking to lift spirits and maintain standards. That makes his absence from the matchday environment on the final day all the more striking.

Belgrano final pulls Romero home

South American football expert Tim Vickery told talkSPORT that Romero will attend boyhood club Belgrano's AFA Liga Torneo Apertura final against River Plate on Sunday evening — a match that kicks off at 19:30 BST, a full three and a half hours after Spurs host Everton. Belgrano president Luis Artime has reportedly confirmed that Romero is using the Argentine club's training facilities as he works to recover from the injury.

Romero had already posted a social media video congratulating Belgrano, who have reached their first Argentina Primera División Apertura final. He was pictured at Belgrano's training ground on Thursday, and a social media image of him boarding a private jet with family members had already flagged that a return to Córdoba was on the cards.

Whether Romero is also receiving any medical treatment in Argentina as part of his rehabilitation — and as he bids to be fit for this summer's World Cup with the defending champions — is not yet clear. Tottenham have not formally confirmed the situation, and BBC Sport reports the club has been approached for comment.

Questions about timing and commitment

His manager has been supportive in public. De Zerbi praised Romero ahead of Tuesday's defeat by Chelsea, deflecting questions about a possible summer transfer with warm words for the defender's influence behind the scenes. The Spurs head coach is due to speak to the media later on Friday.

Even so, the optics are difficult for Tottenham. A near 7,000-mile round trip for a captain — however injured — at the exact moment his club is fighting to stay in the division they have called home for nearly half a century is the kind of story that refuses to be quietly filed away. Romero cannot do anything on the pitch on Sunday, and nobody is questioning that. But plenty inside the game will question the timing.

The market has already taken note of the wider uncertainty surrounding Spurs, and transfer speculation linking Romero with a summer move away from the club has not gone away. How the final-day drama against Everton unfolds — with or without their captain watching from Argentine stands — will shape what kind of rebuild Tottenham attempt in the window ahead.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Why is Cristian Romero not playing for Spurs against Everton?
Romero picked up a knee injury during Tottenham's match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in April, which ended his Premier League season early. He is currently in Argentina recovering from the injury.
Do Spurs need to win to avoid relegation on the final day?
A win against Everton guarantees Tottenham's safety. A draw should also be enough because Spurs have a better goal difference than West Ham, who are two points behind them going into the final round of fixtures.
What is Romero doing in Argentina while Spurs play Everton?
Romero has returned to his boyhood club Belgrano in Córdoba, where he is using their training facilities during his recovery. He is also expected to attend Belgrano's AFA Liga Torneo Apertura final against River Plate on Sunday evening.