Barcelona to sign Oriol Romeu on 2-year contract. According to reports, Oriol Romeu, a former Chelsea midfielder, and Barcelona have reached a two-year agreement. The La Masia product is wanted by the Blaugrana to replace Sergio Busquets, who moved on a free transfer this summer.
After Busquets left, Barcelona is reportedly working behind the scenes to obtain Xavi the player he wants. They have a number of guys on the list, but Romeu is getting closer.
The club and the 31-year-old have agreed on a 2-year contract with an additional year as an option. His contract with Girona includes a €8 million release clause, but the Blaugrana are seeking to negotiate a lesser price.
According to the source, the transfer might be finalized within the next 24 to 48 hours because everyone involved is in favor of the change. Ilkay Gundogan joined Blaugrana this summer on a free transfer, strengthening their midfield.
Oriol Romeu was one of the players Sergio Busquets’ successors, according to Barcelona manager Xavi:
Xavi has urged Barcelona to bring in a defensive midfielder this summer and has been upfront about his transfer goals. He claims that in order to replace Sergio Busquets, the team needs to sign a player because they do not already have one.
One of the players the manager saw as a potential replacement for the Barcelona icon was Oriol Romeu. Xavi was cited as saying by SPORT: “To replace Busquets, choose whoever is the most complete and best pivot. Fair play and the state of the economy are important to us. The ideal candidate must be very decisive, powerful enough to win duels, intelligent, and technically proficient. That stands in as Busi’s natural replacement.”
He added: “There have been several, indeed. Oriol Romeu, Samper? Yaya Toure, a fantastic player, was forced to quit. Busquets never suffering an injury has been a blessing for us. The players ultimately realize they must depart. We’re not sure if we have a replacement at home, so it’s time to find one.”
“If we want to compete next year, we need to locate that element. It is essential. This year, Busi has been really crucial and vital. We need to identify a key participant. Being able to compete next season is essential.”
This summer, the Blaugrana attempted to re-sign Lionel Messi but were unable because of their dire financial situation. The Argentine is now on holiday in the Bahamas after joining Inter Miami.
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