Physicality key factor of Barca interest in Oriol Romeu

Oriol Romeu has been chosen by Barça to replace Sergio Busquets: the player from Ulldecona, brought up in La Masia, was never able to make a name for himself in the Barça first team and after a spell in the Premier League (Chelsea and Southampton) and two loan spells (Stuttgart and Valencia), he has now been presented with the opportunity to sign for Xavi's side, and theoretically to play an important role next season.

Oriol Romeu left Southampton last summer, on the last day of the window, to sign for Girona. One of his motivations for the move was to return home after seven years with the club in the south of England. At Girona he had a remarkable season: he was a first-choice starter under Míchel, played 33 games and scored two goals.

Oriol Romeu arrived at Girona with one concern: how would he re-adapt to the Spanish league? He had already played for Valencia, in the 2013-14 season, but the Catalan player knew that today's football demands a physical performance vastly different to what happened ten years ago.

For this reason, Romeu made it a priority to focus on his physical level. Because of the way he plays and his build, he knows that he has to be in excellent physical condition and that in order not to be a slow player, his physical level has to be optimal throughout the season.

In England, the Premier League forces all its players to develop a higher physical capacity than in Spanish football, which is more technical but less powerful physically. Romeu adapted perfectly to the Premier League (he was one of the leading players in Southampton, and curiously after his departure, the team finished bottom of the Premier League) and wanted to maintain that physical level in Girona. 

One of the keys that explains his great season in the team coached by Míchel is precisely that, the physical performance he has shown throughout the season and which has made him the object of Xavi's desire to reinforce Barça's midfield.

Romeu is particularly aware that the physical factor has helped him to develop his career as a player. He did not have it easy, because a year after signing for Chelsea he suffered a serious knee injury in 2012. 

The injury threatened to condition or even halt his career, but Oriol Romeu managed to overcome the obstacle to continue competing at the highest level. The midfielder has played well in La Liga, the Premier League and the Bundesliga. 

Meanwhile, Romeu is still waiting for the deal to be agreed. He is in no hurry and knows that the signing could take days or weeks, but he is excited to return to what was once his home.