Barcelona has already drawn up a definitive roadmap with one of its first-team members. After several months of uncertainty and little prominence, the club has made a firm decision. There's no turning back and no room for interpretation: he won't continue. The solution will be drastic; we're talking about a player who arrived just a year ago with the hope of providing balance in midfield.
However, his performance has fallen far short of the desired level, neither with Xavi nor with Hansi Flickhas he managed to convince, and the sporting management has decided to make a clean break. The club isn't considering any loan, nor a sale that could prolong the process. Barcelona has chosen the fast track: immediate termination, the player will be released from his contract in the coming days and will no longer be part of the culé project.
This is about Oriol Romeu, signed in the summer of 2023 from Girona. He arrived with the intention of filling the gap left by Sergio Busquets. Although the Catalan player never managed to fill that void, despite having experience and knowing the club, his level has been insufficient for the demanding environment of the blaugrana club. During the 2023-24 season, Romeu gradually lost prominence. He started as a starter but ended up relegated to a marginal role.
Resounding failure
He only participated in 37 official matches, many of them coming off the bench or in games of little significance. In the 2024-25 season, he was loaned to Girona, where he played 31 matches and the Champions League as a member of the Girona squad. Now he's returning to Barça, but only to leave, since the club considers that his cycle has ended and he won't stay at the blaugrana club.
The Ulldecona native knows he's not in Flick's plans, who has internally communicated to him that he doesn't need him in his squad. Barça is prioritizing freeing up salary mass for the new fiscal year. Although Romeu doesn't have one of the highest salaries, he still occupies a first-team spot. Every spot counts in such a limited context due to LaLiga's Financial Fair Play, and from the player's camp, the possibility of returning to Girona is already being explored.
Saudi Arabia and Girona in sight
There have also been contacts with clubs from Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, although nothing has been finalized yet. The termination will facilitate any move, as he'll enter the market as a free agent. Oriol Romeu's departure is key. Barça is immersed in several operations, and the departure of the midfielder trained at La Masia will help further free up salary mass for new registrations at the club.
Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick are working tirelessly to create as much space as possible and recover the necessary Fair Play. Romeu's departure will slightly ease some of the arrivals Deco is working on.