‘I fulfilled my dream’ – Former Barcelona midfielder opens up on failed return and emotional departure | OneFootball

Oriol Romeu may not have enjoyed the return to Barcelona that many had hoped for, but the midfielder has said that he looks back on the experience with pride rather than disappointment.

The former Barcelona academy player struggled to establish himself after rejoining the club and eventually found himself on the fringes of the squad. 

Despite that difficult period, Romeu insists that representing Barcelona again was something he will always value.

Romeu’s reflection on difficult Barcelona return

Looking back, the midfielder spoke honestly about the highs and lows of a spell that ultimately did not unfold as expected.

Although his second stint at Barcelona was marked by inconsistency and limited opportunities, Romeu remains convinced that returning to Camp Nou was the right decision.

“I fulfilled my dream: to be at the best club in the world.”

Romeu has no regrets. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The midfielder also rejected the idea that he regrets any part of the journey, even if the final outcome was not ideal.

“I’m satisfied with my work; I have little to reproach myself for. 

“Looking back, I don’t hold anything against myself, nor do I regret any of the decisions I made. I have great friends and great memories. It was all very intense.”

Stint under Xavi

One of the biggest challenges during his time at Barcelona came when he gradually lost his place in the team under Xavi Hernandez. 

As his playing time decreased, Romeu had to adapt to a different role within the squad.

“A player always wants to be involved as much as possible. The moment you realise you’re not playing as much, that you’re losing your place, you try to find solutions and help the team as much as possible.”

Romeu struggled for gametime at Barcelona (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Eventually, it became clear that regular opportunities would be difficult to come by.

Hence, after finding himself on the sidelines for much of the season, Romeu decided that a fresh start was necessary. 

That decision ultimately led him back to Girona, where he felt he would have a better chance of playing consistently. While explaining how the move came about, the midfielder said,

“After not getting any playing time during the season, I felt I needed to play more. At Barça, I saw that as very difficult. I knew that Míchel wanted me back and, seeing that Girona was an option, I didn’t hesitate to go there.”

Lastly, while summing up his experience, Romeu offered a reflection that perfectly captures his outlook on the entire journey, concluding,

“Often, the final outcome doesn’t necessarily have to overshadow the initial decision.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo