July 22, (THEWILL) – Barcelona, the reigning Spanish champions, officially presented Oriol Romeu as their latest signing on Friday.
The seasoned midfielder, known for his impressive career spanning clubs such as Chelsea, Valencia, Stuttgart, and Southampton, joins the Spanish giants’ pre-season training in Los Angeles. Romeu’s return to Barcelona comes after a 12-year absence when he departed the club due to the emergence of Sergio Busquets as a prominent playmaker. Now back at his former stomping ground, Romeu was expectedly grateful for the opportunity to continue growing and facing new challenges.
During the introduction at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Barcelona’s club President, Joan Laporta, spoke highly of Romeu’s abilities and the positive impact he is expected to bring to the team. The 31-year-old midfielder also shared his enthusiasm for rejoining Barcelona and acknowledged Busquets as a significant influence on his career. Romeu’s signing is intended to fill the midfield void left by Busquets’s departure to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.
With a contract extending through 2026, Romeu is eager to contribute to the team’s success and work closely with Barca’s new coach, Xavi Hernandez. Meanwhile, La Blaugrana is set to embark on a pre-season tour in the United States, commencing with a friendly match against Juventus in Santa Clara, California. The team’s return to Los Angeles will see them face Arsenal before the highly anticipated “Clasico” against Real Madrid.
The tour will culminate with a match against AC Milan in Las Vegas on 1 August. As the cash-strapped club aims to reinforce its squad for the upcoming season, Romeu’s addition as the third signing, following Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez, is expected to boost Barcelona’s midfield quality and fortify their position in the very competitive football landscape in Spain and across Europe.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
