The topmost priority of FC Barcelona in this summer transfer window is to sign a midfield pivot who can replace Sergio Busquets in the squad. Over the last few months, a number of candidates have been vetted by the club, and another new name is now being linked with the Catalan giants.
This new name is Oriol Romeu, who currently plies his trade with La Liga side Girona. According to Mundo Deportivo, the player’s signing is being contemplated thoughtfully by the club since the last week, when he was discussed in a videoconference in which the top brass of Barcelona, including Alemany and Deco, was present.
Currently, there is a consensus at the club regarding his signing, but Deco was initially not a very keen advocate of signing Romeu. Deco’s mind was changed mainly by Xavi, who put forward a number of strong arguments in favor of signing the veteran midfielder.
Romeu has been developed at La Masia, and his positional aspect of the game is excellent. This is one of the main attributes the club is looking for in their next pivot, and Romeu fits the bill in this regard.
Furthermore, the player is highly experienced in top-flight football, having played nine seasons in the Premier League, two in La Liga, and one in Bundesliga. He was an important part of the squad in his last three clubs, i.e. Stuttgart, Southampton, and Girona, and his personality and leadership skills make him a good addition to any squad.
His current market value is also not too high. This is another important aspect for the club keeping in view the strained finances and the higher prices of other pivot targets.
The strongest argument in favor of signing Romeu is about the balance that he will bring to the team. Xavi wants Gundogan to play nearer to the opposition goal, and Pedri, Gavi, and De Jong all thrive in a freer role in the midfield.
Romeu’s addition will allow Xavi to have a pivot who knows his positioning well, and who is defensively astute enough to support this midfield structure. Thus, while his offensive skills may be nowhere near to those of Busquets, Romeu can still do a good defensive job while playing as the pivot.
This will allow Pedri, Gundogan, and De Jong to weave their magic without worrying too much about the defensive side of things. Thus, despite his age and low profile, signing Romeu seems to be a good idea for now for Barcelona.
