FC Barcelona have been known to possess some of the greatest names to ever grace the beautiful sport of football. Most of the time these greats get the recognition that they deserve, while others who arguably deserve similar praise are left without it.
More than bias, this is typically attributed to simply the type of football that an individual tends to play. Goalscorers, flashy dribblers, and dazzling playmakers are often the talk of the town, but there are also those doing the ‘dirty work’ that ensures that the team operates at their best possible level.
A similar situation has been found at FC Barcelona, one that previously could be attributed to the career of Sergio Busquets at Barca, and it is now attributed to a lesser degree with new arrival Oriol Romeu as per Spanish outlet SPORT.
‘Invisible’ to the majority of the footballing audience and even critics, Romeu may not possess the daring buzz that arrivals such as Cancelo or Felix may possess, nor the trophy-laden history the likes of Gundogan can boast, but Romeu is still as crucial a member of this Barcelona team as any other, and remains fundamental to Xavi Hernandez.
The recent clash against Real Betis was a clear showcase of this fact. Primarily, the plaudits fly towards the goalscorers of the night and those who performed in a way that caught the eyes of the cameras and headlines.
However, Romeu was just as ever-present in terms of his contribution towards the thrashing of Real Betis. Providing the assist for Felix’s opener, the veteran from La Masia did not stop just there to make an impact on the game regardless of its time in the spotlight.
Within the 64 minutes that he was on the field, Romeu completed 64 passes out of the 68 that he attempted, resulting in a 94% pass success rate. Moreover, he even struck an on-target shot well away from the Betis goal.
6 passes into the attacking third and one accurate cross from the one that he attempted in total. Moreover, he won the singular tackle that he attempted and even made a recovery. In terms of duels for the ball, he came away as the victor in two out of the three that he was involved in for Barcelona.
His technical ability accompanied by his great versatility as a midfielder allows him to be the great catalyst for his Barcelona teammates. He covers for Frenkie De Jong defensively so that the Dutchman is given the freedom to roam more freely, and also becomes a creative source when those around him are unable to provide to the forwards.
By now, the €3.5 million that Barcelona paid Girona for the services of the 31-year-old seems like the bargain of the season. His ability may go unnoticed by most, but it is no coincidence that he has started all five of the games Barcelona have officially played thus far this season.
