The clean-up of Barcelona's squad isn't stopping, and Hansi Flick is very clear about his next move. It's not just a sporting matter, but also about internal dynamics and locker room management. There are players whose cycle has ended, and one of them already has his bags packed.
For some time now, his name has raised more doubts than trust within the club and among the culé environment. His performance has declined, his fit in the system has become complicated, and his presence is increasingly marginal. That's why the decision was made weeks ago, although a club still needed to take the final step.
Valencia and Betis have taken that step, as they need to strengthen the midfield with someone experienced and low-cost. The deal has been worked out quietly, but it's already very advanced, with a total preliminary agreement between clubs. Everything suggests that in the coming days his departure from Camp Nou will become official.
He doesn't have the locker room's support
In the immediate environment of the first team, the feeling is clear: his departure hasn't caused surprise or sadness. Players like Pedri, Gavi, or Ferran Torres no longer saw him as a useful or relevant figure. Even the heavyweights believe his presence was holding back the development of the younger players from the reserve team.
On a tactical level, Hansi Flick has barely given him any prominence during preseason, not even in training sessions. He's the only one of the midfielders who hasn't been included in the rotations, always left out of key tests. His role has been purely testimonial, and his departure was seen as inevitable.
The German coach wants intense footballers, with legs, pace, and a modern reading of the game, all things he no longer offers. His profile fits better in a classic system than in what Flick proposes, which has sealed his fate. Not even the technical department has defended his continuity.
Valencia and Betis compete for his signing
Barça had already informed the player that the best thing was to find an exit this very summer. There wouldn't be a contract termination, but there would be facilities for him to find a new destination in line with his level and salary. Several mid-table teams had inquired about him, but Valencia was the one that accelerated.
The "che" team is looking for experience and muscle in midfield after several departures and can't make major investments. In this context, Barça's midfielder appears as an ideal option due to his cost and profile. The player has accepted the conditions after understanding he wouldn't get minutes in Barcelona.
However, Valencia isn't alone. Real Betis has also shown interest in recent hours, aware that it can secure a reliable signing without a major outlay. Pellegrini sees him as a useful profile to complement its rotation of midfielders.
Neither Pedri, nor Ferran, nor Flick himself were counting on him for this new project. The player in question is none other than Oriol Romeu, who returned a year ago as Xavi's bet and has ended up without a place. Girona wanted him back, but it will finally be Valencia—or perhaps Betis—that completes his signing.
Romeu thus puts an end to his brief spell at Camp Nou, where he never managed to establish himself or carve out a real place. His experience and professionalism are beyond doubt, but Flick's Barça is looking to the future with a different perspective. For that, it was essential to leave the past behind.