Mauricio Pochettino 'constantly speaking' about Tottenham star with 'special aura'

Mauricio Pochettino has been talking to his USMNT defender Mark McKenzie about Spurs captain Cuti Romero

USMNT centre-back Mark McKenzie has claimed he and Mauricio Pochettino are "constantly speaking" about Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. The no-nonsense Argentine is now widely recognised as among the best defenders in all of world football.

So much so, he has become somewhat of a reference point for ex-Spurs boss Pochettino. McKenzie, who is currently playing in France with Toulouse, revealed while away on international duty: “I think it’s about having a certain level of toughness, a certain level of aggression, when you’re on the pitch.

“At Tottenham, there’s a player like Cuti Romero. He’s a player Mauricio and I talk about constantly. It’s a balance between being a good guy off the pitch, very humble and calm, but as soon as he steps on the pitch, you feel his presence.

“He has a special aura. Any player who faces him will think it’s going to be a long day. So that’s an example of a player Mauricio and I sit down together and watch videos of. That’s the style he wants me to adopt. Once on the pitch, it’s about doing everything possible to benefit the team and get a win.”

McKenzie is looking to consolidate his place in Pochettino's squad for next summer's World Cup. Studying Romero will certainly help his cause given the 27-year-old appears to have taken his game to the next level in 2025.

Any lingering questions over the World Cup winner's club future have now been put to bed after Romero penned a new long-term contract with Spurs in August .

The deal will keep him in N17 until the summer of 2029 and Romero has since clarified that he never wanted to leave Spurs despite interest from Atletico Madrid.

He said: "I never said I wanted to leave the club. Nothing came from me to that effect. It is important what the manager and president say.

Cristian Romero has been excellent for Tottenham so far this season (Image: Getty Images)

"I am very happy here, it is like a family. I like the manager. I like the way we work, the way we train. Things can always improve, but I think everyone here is taking the right steps to improve. I am very happy here."

Romero has played eight of Spurs' 10 matches so far this season in all competitions. He missed the 2-2 Champions League draw in Norway against Bodo/Glimt as a precaution before returning to action against Leeds last Saturday.