After spending an incredible season with Girona during the 2022/23 campaign, Oriol Romeu moved to FC Barcelona ahead of the 2023/24 season for a fee of €3.4M. Considering the exit of Club legend Sergio Busquets, who adorned the pivot position in Barcelona's midfield for a long time, Romeu was brought in to succeed Busquets.
And the former Barcelona academy prodigy continued with utmost dedication at the club. Even though he had suffered a knee injury in the first part of the season, Oriol Romeu played the entire season with discomfort in the absence of stars like De Jong, Pedri, and Gavi. Though his 2023/24 campaign was not his best one, he did manage to pull off some brilliant games.
Oriol Romeu set to join Girona on loan
With the incoming of Hansi Flick as the new Barcelona manager, Romeu's future was set to take an unexpected turn. Moreover, with significant interest from his former club, Girona, a possible return seemed like a bigger possibility in Romeu's case. Even though Deco had blocked his transfer to Girona in the January window, this time, almost everyone was convinced, including President Laporta, that he should leave.
Hansi Flick's message was clear: he wanted to see Romeu in the preseason before deciding on his future at Barcelona. Considering Barca's recent injury crisis, which has outlined the star midfielders, including De Jong, Pedri, and Gavi, there stood a bit of a probability that he might stay, given Flick's style of play includes double pivots.
However, according to recent reports, Oriol Romeu seems one step away from joining Girona on loan. Oriol Romeu has left Barça's camp and is traveling to Barcelona to complete his move to Girona. Though there initially seemed a few chances of a permanent transfer, Romeu is leaving for Girona on a loan deal.
Analyzing from Barcelona's perspective, Romeu's departure was favored because of Flick's faith in the duo of Marc Bernal and Marc Casado. Moreover, Girona's longing for Romeu has played a crucial part in the pivot's loan deal. Though Romeu has left the club, Barca would hope that the young duo of Casado-Bernal fills in the pivot role and becomes the long-term successor of Sergio Busquets at the club.