Oriol Romeu's arrival at Barça to pave an easier path for academy midfielders
Romeu's move relieves pressure from the likes of Marc Casadó to Pau Prim
Barça signing Oriol Romeu is the most realistic solution to fill the void left by Busquets. The player from Ulldecona has loads of experience and has also trained at La Masia, giving him a competitive edge that Xavi will look to exploit.
The addition of Girona's pivot also allows the promising midfielders coming up from La Masia to grow without the huge pressure of filling in Busquets' shoes. His return guarantees that the midfield position will continue to be occupied by a player who understands the game and dominates the Barça style.
He is a player who allows others to show off their creativity, rarely being in the spotlight himself. His generous work is not without quality and intelligence.
Oriol Romeu is aware of his limitations and knows how to play to his strengths. He is always well-positioned and is a menace with and without the ball.
About to turn 32, he is in the best moment of his sporting life. He is also an impeccable professional who has always taken great care of himself and can continue to play at a very high level for at least two or three years more.
Youth players can now take it slow and focus on improving and eventually attract Xavi's attention.
Marc Casadó is a similar profile to Romeu, standing out more for his hard work than for his excellent quality on the ball. The Barça Atlètic pivot is a ball-winning machine and a player who distributes possession with ease.
Gerard Hernández has had a less regular season in the Juvenil A team but his potential is also promising. With his great physical ability, he enables the players around him to stand out in their more creative work.
The name that gathers the most consensus to replace Busquets in the medium term is Pau Prim. Xavi gave him his debut with the first team in the friendly in Japan last season. Pau is an immense talent. Very creative on the ball, he stands out because he plays excellently with both foot. Pau Prim also can burst into the box with pace.
Looking further down the pitch, left-footed Marc Bernal's season with Cadete A has also been very exciting. A physicaly gifted prodigy and a remarkable technical player, he sould also be placed on the list of players with options in the coming years to lead the midfield.
