The three reasons to trust and distrust Oriol Romeu as Barça's new pivot

Oriol Romeu is, at present, the only alternative of the FC Barcelona to reinforce the position of the pivote. Although they have not begun the negotiations with the Girona for tantear the possibility of ficharle this summer, Xavi Hernández has given green light for his incorporation and wait that concretise before they begin the trainings by the pre-season. The intention is that it was available to travel to United States, for turns it, on 19 July.

The culés work to against clock, but at the same time have left to link names to occupy the position of the pivote, by what all seems to indicate to that the one of Ulldecona will be the one who recale in the Barça, except twist of script. It is a player that generates a lot of controversy. In fact, in a recent survey that make in FCBN, our readers concluded that it does not have the sufficient level to triumph in the group culé, although yes it could stand out like second option to reinforce the mediocentro.

Oriol Romeu, a profile 'low cost' that it can fit

The true is that, to day of today, the option of Oriol Romeu is the only that fits economically. Has a clause of exit that rondaría the 5-10 million euros and that the Barça would try abaratar with the inclusion of a player, although it is a proposal that to the Girona would not like him. It is the main resource that has in favour the one of Ulldecona, but also has showed that it is a footballer that would go in with ease in the diagram of Xavi Hernández. It does not be necessary to overlook that it formed in The Masia and went through all the categories of the club between 2004 and 2011, before leaving to Chelsea of Villas-Boas.

In the Barça B, especially, left the first brushstrokes of the player that wanted to be: one that sacrificed , went always to the cut and that won a lot of duels. They understood that it was done to play in the first team, but had in in front of Sergio Busquets that it did not leave him 'opportunities'. In England added a long path and, in spite of the fateful injury of knee that suffered in 2012, knew reinvindicarse. It was key, for example, for the final of the English Glass with the Southampton or in the feat to classify to the Europe League, with Ronald Koeman, by the way.

Had a long route until, the past summer, recaló in the Girona where turned into one of the most solvent pivote of the season 2022-2023. It showed a reading of game and spaces very privileged, with good route and vision that him 'delata' that went through The Masia. This, combined with his big physical deployment that helps him to intercept, win duels and cover a big plot of the terrain of game turned it into one of the key players of the Girona of Míchel.

Lacking of experience in the elite?

Romeu Is a player that has showed regularity, big capacities and absolute commitment to where has gone. It is not casualidad that have played 239 parties in the Premier League (217 with the Southampton and 22 with Chelsea) and that, especially for the 'Saints' have been so important. The problem and the point that more generates controversy is the scale in which it has triumphed. The Barça has the task to substitute to a player of maximum level, as it is it Sergio Busquets, and the wish was that his relief went a 'crack' of first.

The club sondeó to Joshua Kimmich or Marcelo Brozovic, two players with a lot of experience in the maximum category and Europe, with the option of Martín Zubimendi that it is the more 'seemed' to 'Busi', by what the bajón in the expectations is very big and will remain to see if Romeu, in case of recalar finally in the club, is able to impose . Already in England received any that another criticism when the requirement went up and of there that there are doubts.

Also it will be necessary to take in account the little experience that has in European competitions, although this will not be an obstacle to fit in the plans of Xavi. It has added four parties with Chelsea in Champions League (347') and other ten in Europe League with Valencia (4) and Southampton (6). The big challenge of the culés is to compete in the maximum competition to level of clubs... And it will be necessary to see how answers.