Cristian Romero has hit back at comments from Gary Neville after Argentina reached the World Cup final, saying he hopes he is never “that stupid” when his own playing career comes to an end.
The Tottenham defender responded after Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final victory over England, days after Neville questioned the partnership of Romero and Lisandro Martinez by describing them as “the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world”.
Neville made his assessment during an appearance on The Overlap before the semi-final. The former Manchester United and England defender, turned pundit, praised the pair’s qualities but also had critical words.
“They seem to give a goal away between them every single game,” Neville said. “But you watch them, they are scoring goals, heading the ball, they’re literally everywhere – it’s incredible.
“I call them the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world. Because they absolutely at times they can be unbelievable but the next, it’s the sublime to the ridiculous.”
Romero and Martinez have been regular starters together for Argentina for several years and have featured in all but one of the team’s World Cup matches this summer. Their only absence as a pairing came in the final group game against Jordan, when qualification for the knockout rounds had already been secured.
After the victory over England, Romero dismissed Neville’s criticism and defended the commitment of Argentina’s players.
“The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid,” Romero said. “Hopefully I won’t criticise a player or anyone.
“Because at the end of the day, we are doing our best for our national team. Sometimes it goes right for us, sometimes badly, but we are just happy to be in a World Cup final again.
“I think we are making history, for us it is something really huge, and we feel the significance of this shirt like no one else.”
Martinez also addressed the comments, saying outside opinions have become familiar to the squad.
“We’re used to people always talking about us,” he said. “It seems like they like doing it, and we respond on the pitch, that’s it, always with respect.”
