FC Barcelona and Oriol Romeu are about to part ways. The Catalan midfielder has reached an agreement to terminate his contract with the Blaugrana club. According to SPORT, in the coming days the veteran will be a free agent and will have the possibility of signing for a new team.
The Catalan is not in Hansi Flick's plans, so his departure from the club is imminent. This move will alleviate the wage burden of the Azulgrana club and the player from Ulldecona will be able to look for minutes in a club where he can play a more important role.
According to the contract signed in 2023, Oriol earns around 3.4 million euros gross annually and his termination clause is 400 'kilos'. Hence, an amicable resolution, through financial compensation, is the best for both parties.
An agreed departure between Oriol Romeu and Barça
In that sense, Barcelona must compensate the Catalan for the early termination of the contract, as a contractual requirement to activate the termination clause, since he still has one year left.
Oriol Romeu, 33, was loaned out last season for not having a place at Barça. In the 2023/2024 season he played 37 games, starting in 17 of them, with limited participation with the Catalan club. This was due to a knee injury and the player's poor performance.
In total, the player from Ulldecona played 37 games with the Blaugrana shirt (17 as a starter) in which he provided one assist. After the arrival of Hansi Flick, the German coach opted for the young talent of Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó for the defensive pivot position, while Frenkie de Jong recovered from his injury.
Now, the former Southampton, Chelsea and Suttgart player and Barça see the termination of the contract favorably as it favors both parties in their interests. While the Blaugrana club frees up space in its squad, Romeu prioritizes obtaining more minutes.
What's next for Romeu?
'La Roca' is an experienced player who has played in the English Premier League and several teams in Spain. The midfielder stands out for his defensive profile, with great ball recovery ability, positioning and ability to cut off the opponent's game, so he will have no problem getting a club that wants to acquire his services.
Should Barça have given Romeu more opportunities, or is it the right time for him to leave? In Girona, the 33-year-old midfielder will have the necessary continuity to continue competing at his best in LaLiga, as Míchel fully trusts him.
The Catalan team, in addition, needs his experience in midfield. Proof of this was the eventful league debut against Rayo (1-3), where defensive errors punished the 'albirrojos' in Montilivi. After playing in the Champions League last season, the goal is, at the very least, to maintain the category without difficulties.