Barca target Oriol Romeu starts pre-season training with Girona

Oriol Romeu started pre-season training with Girona on Monday, while waiting for his transfer to Barça to be finalised. Negotiations between the two clubs are at an advanced stage and should be resolved this week. Ideally, his future should be decided before Monday 17 July, when the team coached by Míchel will begin the first of their two training camps in Vall d'en Bas. Two days later, Barça will travel to the United States to complete a tour that will last until August 2 and Xavi would like to have the replacement for Sergio Busquets at his disposal, to begin to fit him into his set-up in the four friendly matches scheduled on American soil, against Juventus, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Milan.

The Blaugrana have already reached an agreement in principle with the midfielder for the next two seasons with an option for a third, and in recent days have tried to bring Girona closer to a deal to seal the transfer. The Montilivi club is sticking to the eight million stipulated as the midfielder's termination clause and the Blaugrana are exploring the possibility of paying that figure but divided into two parts: four fixed and another four in variables that can be met, which would allow them to postpone the payments.

While the two clubs are trying to reach an agreement, Oriol Romeu passed his medical on Monday prior to the start of training with Girona. He will train under the orders of Míchel throughout the week while waiting for the official announcement of his transfer to Barça.

Girona will complete two training camps. The first, at Vall d'en Bas, will last from 17 to 22 July and will include a friendly against Olot (19 July). The second, at Manchester City's City Football Academy, will take place between 24 and 30 June. In England, Míchel's team will play Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.

Míchel has his full squad at his disposal with the only exception of the injured Toni Villa and Arnau Martínez, who has a few extra days off after playing the U21 European Championship with Spain.