Southampton: Hasenhuttl and Romeu react to Spaniard’s new contract

Southampton confirmed that midfielder Oriol Romeu had signed a new two-and-a-half year contract yesterday after proving himself as one of the club’s most important players.

The Spaniard joined Saints for around £5m from Chelsea back in 2014 and has been a strong presence in the centre of the pitch ever since.

His six-year stay at St Mary’s has seen him rack up 198 appearances so far at an average of 33 games per season and he revealed his delight at extending his stay until at least 2023

Speaking to southamptonfc.com on his deal, Romeu said:

"“Staying here for longer is just what I wanted and I’m so happy and so pleased to get to this point. It’s been six years now and has been a long journey, but I’m very excited and haven’t felt as good as I’m feeling right now, so I want to keep this momentum going as long as possible.”"

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl also spoke about how pleased he was to have his midfield enforcer committing his future to the club.

"“I have not seen many players who are as professional as Oriol in my time as a manager.“He gives his absolute commitment in everything that he does, whether it is in training or in a match, and this is a great example to set.”"

Romeu is an absolutely crucial member of the current setup and his form since the start of the 2020/21 season has been almost faultless.

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There were questions about how he would fit into the Ralph Hasenhuttl style of high-pressing, fast football but he has proven that he can fit in seamlessly.

Along with James Ward-Prowse, he provides a central screen for the defence by winning plenty of tackles and duels in the centre of the field.

Both players also contribute to the attack too and have both registered goals in the opening eight games of the campaign.

What has been most impressive about Romeu since he signed from Chelsea is his ability to come straight into the team – sometimes after a while on the sidelines – and perform well.

He had suffered from injuries before arriving on the South Coast but his average of 33 matches in each campaign since shows that fitness is no longer an issue and that Saints can rely on him.

For Ralph Hasenhuttl, it is obvious important Romeu is too.

The Spaniard is not only useful for winning the ball back but helps hugely to maintain possession when it matters – something that has pushed Saints to some vital wins so far this season.