Oriol Romeu: Future Spanish Prophet of Football?

Spanish central midfielder Oriol Romeu has been compared to the likes of N’Golo Kante in the season gone past thanks to his heroic efforts on defense.

Claude Puel told the Southern Daily Echo that himself. N’Golo Kante has been awarded Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year the BBC says, so how far has Romeu to go to reach the heights of the title-winning midfielder?

Things in Common

Firstly, he shares the ability with Kante to break up the play and play the ball forward, an amicable attribute for any player playing in the deep midfield role.

The Spanish certainly have a pedigree of breeding fantastic central midfielders, take for instance the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Sergio Buskets and Xabi Alonso, all incredibly gifted holding midfielders.

Oriol Romeu adopts another trait that Spanish players possess, which is creativity. You see it week in week out in his fluidity of play, much to his credit at an early stage of his career.

Secondly, he has the ability to spread the play or play a cute ball forward into higher positions, much to the counter-attacking tactics of the Saints. He is certainly a big influence in this role and often dominates the possession play.

Where Oriol Romeu needs to develop and still lacks in my opinion, is to take a touch, get his head up, and spot a run from deep infield and plant the ball over the top. When Shane Long is on form, he’ll appreciate that kind of delivery.

Dream Team Selector: N’Golo Kante or Oriol Romeu?

N’Golo Kante. He offers the asset of picking up the ball in his stride and releasing it in one movement. Oriol Romeu needs to lay it off short or have a touch. Kante is also emerging as an even better striker of the ball.

Such genius players possess talent in all positions such as Kevin de Bruyne, who only recently arrived on the scene after a dismal spell at Chelsea. That said, Oriol Romeu does have a good touch, self-composure, and will rarely make a mistake.

Future Full Spain International?

There is definite potential going forward that Oriol could go further than Southampton and reach the ranks of Spain’s starting 11 in future. His effortless movement and ability to pick out a pass suits their style of play, and it could produce greater prospects at Southampton if he only realises what kind of talent he has. He hasn’t set the scene alight exactly with his 7 out of 10 performances and just one goal to his name all season.

Nevertheless, in Oriol Romeu and Manolo Gabiadinni, the Saint’s have a direct threat that has yet to be fully exposed to the various clubs in the Premier League.

Star midfielder Oriol Romeu shall shine brighter next season when Southampton tries to win the league again.

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