Despite his agent raising the very real prospect of a stay at Chelsea until 2013, a return to Barcelona has moved closer for Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu.


Sources close to the Camp Nou have indicated that Blaugrana coach Josep Guardiola has urged the club’s hierarchy to pay an agreed €10M buy-back clause which was inserted in the deal to sell Romeu to Chelsea last summer.

 

Guardiola is steeling himself to lose the services of Seydou Keita, either next month or next summer – and the 20-year-old Romeu is seen as a perfect replacement.

 

Barcelona have been impressed with how the young Spaniard has acquitted himself at Stamford Bridge and believe playing in the Premier League will have hardened him as a player.

 

Romeu will still have to agree to move back to the Camp Nou, but if the midfielder receives guarantees over time on the pitch, he should give the green light.

 

Losing Romeu would be a disappointment to Chelsea, with boss Andre Villas-Boas keen to keep hold of the young talent.

 

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