A heavily transfer-linked member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona is set to stay put at the club next season.
That’s according to the reliable ESport3, who point towards Oriol Romeu as the player in question.
Spaniard Romeu is of course fresh off something of an underwhelming first season back in the colours of Barcelona.
Brought in as a cut-price replacement for the departing Sergio Busquets, the 32-year-old enjoyed a productive start to life in Xavi’s squad.
However, as the months passed, Romeu fell heavily out of favour, to the point that defender Andreas Christensen was pushed into a role in the middle of the park in his place.
The widespread assumption, in turn, has long been that Romeu is set to be moved on this summer.
It will therefore no doubt mark a major surprise to those of a Barcelona persuasion to hear that, instead, the former Southampton man is now increasingly likely to stay put.
In fact, as much is all but certain.
As per the aforementioned ESport3, Hansi Flick has been left altogether impressed by Romeu’s performance in pre-season.
So much so that confirmation has arrived that ‘Oriol Romeu will continue this season with Barça’. The new coach has said that ‘he is counting on him’ for the season ahead.
The player’s representatives, in turn, have halted negotiations with any and all clubs interested in his signature.
Conor Laird | GSFN
