Barcelona likely to terminate contract of 33-year-old player to move him on – Report | OneFootball

When Sergio Busquets left the club at the end of the 2022/23 season, it left a huge void in the defensive midfield position at FC Barcelona. The Spaniard had made that position his very own for the better part of a decade.

Having just lifted La Liga, Xavi Hernandez had to ensure that the absence of the club captain would not affect the team going forward, and he chose to make an emergency signing of Oriol Romeu from Girona to provide cover.

However, the ex-La Masia graduate, who showed some promise initially, was quickly found wanting in that position and could not keep up with the demands of playing for Barcelona. Subsequently, Xavi decided to use one of Frenkie de Jong or Andreas Christensen in that role, sidelining the ex-Girona midfielder.

Oriol Romeu was loaned back to Girona

Oriol Romeu went back on loan to Girona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Hansi Flick decided that he was not counting on Romeu, and Girona welcomed him back with open arms, taking him on loan. However, a chronic knee injury prevented the 33-year-old from becoming indispensable, and he is now set to return to Barcelona following the end of his loan spell.

Now, as per Spanish publication AS, Barcelona are likely to pay a small fee to Romeu and agree a contract termination to give him complete freedom to choose his next destination. The Catalan club doesn’t see it as a possibility to recoup financially from his sale.

Barcelona are looking to bring in new players to the squad to reinforce the options at Hansi Flick’s disposal, and to do that, they will want to make space by moving on players that they don’t count on. Thus, Romeu could be offered the letter of freedom.

Free agent?

Despite playing 31 games for Girona last season, Romeu has suffered a lot of physical concerns in recent times, but it will not be a surprise to see Michel’s side move back for him should he become available as a free agent this summer.

Oriol Romeu’s time at Barcelona will go down as a panic signing by Xavi Hernandez that simply did not work out. That said, the club isn’t set to lose much, making this a low-risk gamble that did not pay off. It remains to be seen how the club sorts out an exit for the 33-year-old veteran this summer.