Sergio Romero prepared to fight to keep his Man United No.1 spot – with his …

Sergio Romero and his wife Eliana Guercio make a formidable team.

And as D-Day approaches for the Argentinian goalkeeper at Manchester United don't expect Romero - or his scary glamour model missus - to give up the Old Trafford number one spot without a fight.

With the David de Gea farce coming to a conclusion before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, Romero's future at United will become a whole lot clearer.

Seen as a number two by many, Romero has been drafted in on a free transfer from Sampdoria by Louis van Gaal as insurance against de Gea leaving.

But whether de Gea stays for a final season, leaves for Real Madrid or Ajax star Jasper Cillessen arrives as the new top dog, write Romero off at your peril.

The South American star is used to beating the odds after retaining his status as Argentina's number one keeper despite being Monaco's on-loan reserve keeper last season building up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Sergio Romero warms up
Expectation: It was thought Romero was arriving at Old Trafford just as back up

After being bombed by then Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri, Romero's career looked in free-fall. But the 28-year-old keeper kept his international place and had his finest hour in Sao Paulo last summer - with van Gaal his victim.

Romero inspired Argentina to the Final against Germany in Rio de Janiero with penalty shoot-out heroics in the semi-final to knock out Holland.

Now he's in a fight for his future at United. And with his wife in his corner he won't surrender his number one spot quietly.

"I am always prepared to fight for my career. It has often been that way, especially before the World Cup" says Romero.

"I did everything I could to arrive the best way at the World Cup in Brazil. Nothing was gifted. I trained a lot at Monaco and was disappointed every time their coach Claudio Ranieri left me out.

"But that's football. I played very few games last season, but thank God my Argentina team-mates, my coach Alejandro Sabella and his coaching staff gave me a lot of strength and confidence for every game."

Alex Livesey - FIFA
Big games: Romero starred at the World Cup

Penalty shoot-out saves from Wesley Sneijder and Ron Vlaar in the semi-final against Holland earned Romero, Argentina's most capped keeper, hero status - and won him a move to United.

"Angelito (Di Maria) came up to me before the penalty shoot-out and said: 'Think of your wife. Think of your daughters.

"Think of the people who love you. Follow your heart. It will definitely help us.' And it did.

"Mascherano told me it was my moment, that it was the moment to change history, because without playing and receiving so much criticism, it would be my moment to turn the page, and he told me I'd become a hero.

"Since that day people asked me for thousands of photos, autographs. The reception I got was beautiful and it's carried on like that.

"After all the blows I took all last year it was very nice to see people thanking you in the street. I was very pleased."

Wife Eliana, a glamour model and dancer, fiercely defends her man - and won't have a bad word said against Romero.

"I felt very impotent, but apart from the fact that I love him, I don't want anyone to say the slightest bad thing about him or about my daughters, because I want to kill them" she says.

"Touch my husband or my daughters and it would pain me for the rest of my life. In the lead up to the World Cup people didn't question him for playing badly but for not playing many games.

"They didn't know that his soul was breaking not to lose his place in the national team for the World Cup.

"It wasn't the public, it was two or three journalists who afterwards saw me but they ran away. They were afraid I'll catch them."

As United arrive at Swansea today, Romero is yet to concede a Premier League goal in three games. He's made some decent saves but there are flaws in his game and his distribution is way off de Gea's standard of excellence.

But his spirit and humility is strong and that appeals to van Gaal - and the keeper's wife.



Sergio Romero's model wife Eliana Guercio strips to underwear and kisses her female co-star


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"The way he introduced himself killed me - a very sweet and intelligent man. He didn't come saying 'What? You don't recognise me?"

"I didn't know him. He sent me two or three text messages. My friend Marcelito googled him.

"Two photos came up: in one it looked like he didn't have teeth. I said he was horrible, but when he approached, all tall, divine, tanned, I died.

"He shook my hand, greeted me and said he was Sergio, the one who'd sent the messages. It's just as well I got to know him!"

AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA
Sergio Romero's wife waves before the World Cup Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina
Belief: Guercio also has her own career

Eliana, who has posed topless and appeared in an exotic dance show, added: "I'm happy with what I've achieved in my life. I found love, and that's my priority.

"I enjoy my work. But the heart is always more important. That's why I go with Sergio.

"Nobody believed in us. They say I got married because he's a footballer. Sergio is the best man, the best father and the great love of my life.

"He's an incredible man. God has given me this."

Romero will be hoping van Gaal has the same faith in him once Tuesday's window slams shut.

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