---
title: "Southampton: Oriol Romeu dismisses club exit despite La Liga links"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-oriol-romeu-dismisses-club-exit-despite-la-liga-links-pierre-emile-hojbjerg-james-ward-prowse/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dylan Walsh"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2020-02-05T12:50:21Z"
modified: "2020-04-05T10:21:58Z"
---

# Southampton: Oriol Romeu dismisses club exit despite La Liga links

**Oriol Romeu has waved off the suggestion that he was close to leaving Southampton in the winter transfer window for Celta Vigo despite paper talk from Spain.**

[Speaking to The Southern Daily Echo](https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18207052.southampton-midfielder-oriol-romeu-talks-interest-spain/?ref=rss), the 28-year-old midfielder voiced his intent on remaining with the Saints for the immediate future, as well as stating his desire to compete for a spot in the first-team despite recently dropping out of the starting XI ([per Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/oriol-romeu/leistungsdaten/spieler/66100)).

Romeu said about the rumours in January: “There were rumours but that was just talk. The club always told me that they want me here and I am more than happy to be here. I want to be competing for a spot in the team because I’m ready to go.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

[Described by Breaking the Lines](https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/oriol-romeu-southamptons-metronome/) as Southampton’s midfield metronome, Romeu has somewhat fallen out of favour since the arrival of Ralph Hasenhuttl, with the Barcelona academy graduate starting just four times since the [9-0 defeat to Leicester City](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50092694) as the Saints completely turned their season around following the infamous result.

And with Mundo Deportivo reporting [via Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/club-wait-southampton-players-arrival-transfer-close-week/) in January that La Liga side Celta Vigo were keen on signing the Southampton midfielder, it appeared that Romeu was about to jump ship after losing his place in the first-team and only seeing a handful of minutes from the bench.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Romeu deciding to buckle down and fight for his spot in the Southampton first-team is an interesting tactic from the Catalan-born player given that Hasenhuttl seemingly favours a midfield pivot of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and James-Ward Prowse ([per Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/leistungsdaten/verein/180)), but it could be an indication that the midfielder is willing to accept his role as a squad player.

The 28-year-old has still seen a decent amount of football this campaign (has played over [1000](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/oriol-romeu/leistungsdaten/spieler/66100) minutes in the Premier League), and whilst he is no longer viewed as the first midfielder to go on the team sheet, Hasenhuttl has shown a level of trust in him to play him whenever a space is available in the centre of the park, which to Romeu seems appealing enough for him to remain at the club for the immediate future.

\[freshpress-poll id=”276997″\]

***Southampton fans, would you be okay with Romeu leaving in the summer? Let us know!***