Former Argentine international and World Cup winner Jorge Burruchaga has heaped praise on Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.
Speaking on radio La Red, Jorge Burruchaga has claimed that Cristian Romero is ten times better than Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who is often regarded as the best central defender in the world.
The former Argentine international said, “They say Van Dijk and tell me he is the best defender in the world. Romero is 10 times more. If you look at the best defenders, they are not fast. And Cuti has balance and speed. He’s extraordinary.”
Romero has been a key player for Tottenham since joining the club, and he has been an indispensable asset for his country as well. The former Atalanta defender recently helped Argentina win the World Cup, and he has been a mainstay at the back for Tottenham as well.
There is no doubt that Romero is one of the best central defenders in the world right now. But to claim that he is ten times better than the Liverpool start might be an exaggeration. Virgil van Dijk has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, and he has won every major trophy at the club level.
In addition to that, he has regularly proven himself time and again against the European elite in the UEFA Champions League. And while Romero remains a quality defender, he has yet to win anything of note at the club level. Moreover, he has not been tested properly in the Europe’s top tier football competition either.
"A mí me nombran a Van Dijk 🇳🇱 y me dicen que es el mejor defensor del mundo. Romero es 10 veces más. Si buscás a los mejores defensores, no son veloces. Y Cuti tiene equilibrio y velocidad. Es extraordinario".
Firma: Jorge Burruchaga 🇦🇷, en Radio La Red. pic.twitter.com/4gs9c5zFH9
— VarskySports (@VarskySports) September 13, 2023
There is no doubt that the Argentine international might go on to establish himself as a top-class defender in the coming seasons. But the claims from Burruchaga are premature for now. The former World Cup winner believes that Romero has balance and speed as a defender, and he is an extraordinary player.
The same can be said about van Dijk who has shown his quality and class against elite attackers over the years. The Dutch international defender has had a bit of a mixed spell since the serious knee injury he picked up against Everton, but he has looked imperious at the back once again this season. He will hope to get back to his best soon.
The Liverpool defender has also come close to winning the Ballon d’Or during his time at Anfield, a feat matched by very few defenders in the modern era.
