Tottenham defender Cristian Romero admits he studies the game of Liverpool rival Virgil van Dijk.

A regular in the referee's notebook during his time in Italy, the Argentina international received 11 yellows in all competitions for Tottenham last season. Despite the high number of cautions which left him walking a tightrope at times, he does believe that it has actually helped him how to master playing while on a yellow card.

“The English league is the best in the world. Adapting is not easy, it was hard for me, but I already feel good and trying to maintain my level," he said in an interview with radio station Como Te Va.

“I live training sessions and matches in the same way. I like to play and train hard. The games and the experience have allowed me to know how to play when I have a yellow card. Last season I only had eight [Premier League] yellow cards and they didn't send me off."

Looking right at home in England, Romero's adaptation to the Premier League may well have been helped by watching a certain top-flight defender.

“When I was a boy I used to watch Puyol and Pique's Barcelona a lot. Today I watch van Dijk a lot," he admitted.