Barcelona’s new era under coach Hansi Flick is already triggering sweeping changes behind the scenes, as the club begins to reshape its squad in preparation for the upcoming season.
Rather than prioritizing internal conflicts or off-field concerns, the focus within the Camp Nou hierarchy is now firmly on building a competitive and well-balanced team that aligns with Flick’s vision.
With this new direction, the club has placed strong emphasis on cutting down its wage expenses and parting ways with players who are no longer seen as essential.
One of the first casualties of this shift appears to be veteran midfielder Oriol Romeu. After returning to the club last season, Romeu has struggled to make a convincing impact, and reports indicate that Flick has completely ruled him out of his tactical plans.
According to sources close to the team, Flick has urged Barcelona’s management to resolve Romeu’s situation as quickly as possible — ideally before the team’s preseason tour of Asia kicks off.
The German tactician wants clarity and decisiveness in shaping his squad, and Romeu’s exclusion aligns with the broader policy of moving on from players who no longer fit the club’s future direction.
Similar moves have already been made with players like Clément Lenglet and Álex Valle, who were immediately moved on following their loan spells — Lenglet joining Atlético Madrid and Valle heading to Como — with no plans for reintegration.
Despite being placed on the transfer list, Romeu has yet to attract any concrete offers, even though Barcelona have placed a relatively low asking price of under €3 million on him.
As the clock ticks, club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are now weighing the option of terminating his contract altogether. If this happens, Romeu would be allowed to leave on a free transfer, but only if he agrees to waive the remainder of his salary, which currently runs through to 2026.
Such a move would effectively end Romeu’s second stint at the club with little fanfare, marking him as one of the first major exits under Flick’s command.
The decision also reflects Flick’s intent to rejuvenate the squad, particularly in midfield. With rising talents like Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, and the ever-reliable Frenkie de Jong ready to step up, Flick sees no need to keep Romeu around.
The midfielder’s underwhelming performances since arriving from Girona have only solidified the coaching staff’s desire to move in a new direction.
