The latest Chelsea outcast has signed for Southampton. Oriol Romeu, once a promising midfielder making regular appearances in the starting XI of Chelsea, fell out of favor and after a series of loans has been sold to the Saints. Needless to say fellow Chelsea castoffs Ryan Bertrand and Jack Cork worked out quite well for the club. Still only 23, Romeu has time on his side, but a series of knee injuries coupled with Mourinho taking back over Chelsea lead to him sparsely making appearances for the first team in the last few years.
Manager Ronald Koeman sounds excited to bring a player who was at the top of his list when talking about the process of signing him saying,
“A long time he was on the scouting list I know the player already from the academy of Barcelona and I knew about his situation because I know his agent. Ok at the moment we had to bring to in a player at that position he was one of the candidates. He’s 23 years old, he played already in the premier league, he had a good season in [Vfb] Stuttgart last year, and he makes the team stronger and is very good player.”
On if Romeu’s growth as a player was stunted with the lack of playing time?
“Yes, a little bit yes of course it’s not easy to be a player in the first XI of Chelsea because they have so many good players and for young players it’s difficult and it’s always up to the manager, the confidence of the player, but I think it’s the right moment for the player to make this move to Southampton because he will play more then he will play for Chelsea.”
Koeman responding to whether he thinks it is an advantage to have a player who has something to prove? (after leaving Chelsea)
“Yes, thats a good feeling, and he has show already his performance today he’s hungry to play and be part of Southampton. and our philosophy how we like to play football its a midfield player who involves perfectly with our team. “
Romeu is obviously eager to be at Southampton, but the signing has definitely raised a few eyebrows though, considering Harrison Reed was thought to take more game time in the upcoming year. Reed will now be competing with Romeu, Jordy Clasie, Steven Davis and Victor Wanyama for time in the defensive midfield role. Southampton could be covering there bases and replacing Wanyama in advance, if they plan to sell Wanyama next summer after being rumoured to big clubs the past few transfer windows. The signing is also confusing because Centre Half should be a much larger priority with the departure of Alderweireld, the injury to Gardos, and now an infection to new boy Steven Caulker. The Saints only have two healthy senior centre backs on the squad.
Southampton return to St. Mary’s on Saturday to face Everton at 1:00pm.
