De Zerbi defends absent Spurs captain Romero after Hoddle’s ‘selfishness’ jibe

• Tottenham’s injured captain has gone back to Argentina

• Spurs face Everton needing a point for safety on final day

Roberto De Zerbi has defended Cristian Romero’s decision to miss Tottenham’s decisive final game against Everton on Sunday after the Spurs captain flew to Argentina to watch his boyhood club.

Romero, who has not played since injuring a knee against Sunderland last month but has a chance of playing at the World Cup, has been criticised for opting to attend Belgrano’s game against River Plate in a league playoff final. But De Zerbi said Romero’s trip had been sanctioned by Tottenham’s medical department and pointed out that the 28-year-old cannot affect the result at home to Everton regardless.