Since taking charge at Barcelona, Hansi Flick has stood out for his willingness to make bold decisions about which players could flourish and which might hold the team back. He quickly identified those who would positively influence the squad, and he deserves recognition for placing his trust in players like Eric García, Raphinha Dias, and Ferran Torres. Each of them seized their opportunity and soon became important pieces of his project. But things didn’t always unfold so smoothly.
Conversely, several players Flick allowed to leave Camp Nou failed to make an impact at their new destinations. Pablo Torre saw his playing time diminish at Mallorca, while Pau Víctor and Álex Valle struggled to impress at Sporting Braga and Como. Héctor Fort also failed to add anything meaningful during his loan at Elche. Even Ansu Fati, despite scoring regularly at Monaco, couldn’t secure a consistent spot in the starting lineup.
The most notable example of Flick’s decisive approach, however, was Oriol Romeu. His return to Barcelona had seemed questionable from the beginning, and Flick quickly made it clear that the midfielder was not part of his long-term plans. Barcelona initially had difficulty finding a club willing to take him, leaving Romeu in a tough and uncertain situation.
Girona eventually agreed to bring him in, but even an entire season on loan failed to revive his form. After that, Barcelona tried once more to negotiate his exit, yet no club was fully convinced. Then, after more than two months of waiting without any realistic chance of playing again, an unexpected opportunity arose: Southampton reached out.
The English side—where Romeu had enjoyed some of the best seasons of his career—decided to bring him back. Now, it appears Oriol Romeu is set to return to the English Championship and once again step onto the pitch at St. Mary’s Stadium, offering him the chance to relaunch his career.
