Romeu has been tapped to fill the void in midfield caused by the departure of Sergio Busquets for Major League club Inter Miami Barcelona officially introduced their newest signing, veteran Oriol Romeu, on Friday as he attended the Spanish giants’ second training session in Los Angeles.

The veteran has filled the gap in midfield left by Sergio Busquets for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. returned from Girona to the club where he started his career and has also taken him to Chelsea, Valencia, Stuttgart, and Southampton.

“The emotions and feelings are great,” Romeu told reporters after club president Joan Laporta introduced him at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where Barcelona are preparing for their pre-season tour.“Having the opportunity to return home and continue to grow is an intense dream. It was one of the most exciting challenges of my career and the opportunity came at my best,” added Romeu, whose contract will keep him at Barcelona until 2026, announced on Tuesday.

Romeu left Barcelona 12 years ago, in part because Busquets, another youngster from the youth system but a little three years older than Romeu, is establishing himself as a midfielder who will go on to become one of the best assists in Spanish football.

“He’s a player who marked an era,” Romeu said of Busquets, who next Friday could make his Inter Miami debut alongside Argentina great Lionel Messi.

“He’s been the greatest number 5 we’ve seen in as long as I can remember and coming in so soon after he broke up was a fun challenge that excites me,” Romeu said.

In recent days, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez contacted Romeu by phone to inform him that he was his choice for the position.

Cash-strapped club officials confirmed on Friday that with Girona’s reluctance to part ways with the player, they had paid the amount in Romeu’s termination clause, which Spanish media put at $3.4 million.

The 31-year-old is the reigning Spanish champions’ third signing next season, following German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and center-back Inigo Martinez, who were released after their contracts with Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao expired.

Barcelona kicks off their US tour on Saturday with a friendly against Juventus in Santa Clara, California.

 

They return to Los Angeles for the game against Arsenal on Wednesday. On July 29, they will face Real Madrid in a “Clasico” match before concluding their tour on August 1 against AC Milan in Las Vegas.