Argentina’s Cristian Romero on Gary Neville criticism: ‘I hope when I retire, I’m not that stupid’
Argentina’s Cristian Romero says he hopes he is not as “stupid” as Gary Neville when he retires, after the former England and Manchester United defender criticised him ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final
In the build-up to Argentina’s 2-1 win over England, Neville said Argentina’s Romero and Lisandro Martinez were “the best, worst centre-half pairing in the world”.
The duo have played regularly together at international level for several years, including starting in the 2024 Copa America final victory over Colombia, and have started all but one of their side’s World Cup matches this summer — the exception being the final group-stage game against Jordan when Argentina had already qualified.
“The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid. Hopefully I won’t criticise a player or anyone,” Romero replied when asked about Neville’s remark by DSports after the win over England.
“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 added: “We’re used to people always talking about us. It seems like they like doing it, and we respond on the pitch, that’s it, always with respect.”
Martinez and Romero have been a regular centre-back pairing for Argentina (Juan Mabromata / AFP via Getty Images)
Romero of Tottenham Hotspur and Martinez of Manchester United have played in the Premier League, which Neville covers as a commentator and pundit for Sky Sports, for five and four years respectively.
“They seem to give a goal away between them every single game,” Neville said about the pair on The Overlap earlier this week.
“But you watch them (for Argentina), 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.”
The Romero-Martinez partnership has kept two clean sheets in six World Cup games (against Algeria and Austria), conceding six goals (against Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England).
Argentina’s win in Atlanta sees them through to the final, where they will face Spain at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.