The new manager of English football club Chelsea on Saturday announced a deal with Barcelona to sign teenager Oriol Romeu, as the London team prepared for a game in Thailand on their Asia tour.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas confirmed agreement had been reached with the Spanish giants but said the 19-year-old defensive midfielder had yet to finalise personal terms or pass a medical. The fee was not disclosed.
“I wouldn’t like to share a lot because he is not (yet) our player,” Villas-Boas said, describing Romeu as “one of the most interesting, bright young players in the number six position”.
Romeu is currently with the Spain Under-20 squad, which is soon to compete in the World Cup for that age level in Columbia, Villas-Boas said at a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s match with Thailand All Stars on Sunday.
“You know that it is a fact that we are struggling with numbers, not only after Michael’s injury, but we wanted to bring in players in those positions,” he added, referring to Michael Essien, who suffered knee damage in training earlier this month.
“Oriol is a player, of course, with a bright future. He still has to evolve,” said Villas-Boas, adding that Romeu’s Barcelona B team had “a magnificent year”.
He is described on Barcelona’s website as “one of the strongest players around” and “indispensable”.
-With The Daily Star input
