Tuesday, 15th November, 2011
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has been so impressed with Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu that he is bidding to repeat the trick by swooping on Barcelona once again.
This time the Portuguese’s target is another promising midfielder in the shape of Sergi Roberto.
Villas-Boas is thought to have received glowing reports on the 19-year-old, who was handed his La Liga debut in Barcelona’s end of season clash against Malaga in May.
Chances for progression at a club rich in midfield talent appear slim however and Sergi Roberto will have noted the increased first team football enjoyed by Romeu following his switch to Stamford Bridge.
The midfielder’s former Camp Nou team-mate has already clocked up six appearances for Chelsea – more than he managed for Barcelona’s senior team during his seven-year progression with Josep Guardiola’s men.
Like Romeu, Barcelona rate Sergi Roberto highly, expecting great things from the 19-year-old.
But, despite signing the starlet to a new contract recently, which committed him to the European champions until 2015, the player’s deal includes a buy-out clause of €12M.
Villas-Boas could choose to activate this and then sell the Stamford Bridge challenge to Sergi Roberto.
Alternatively, the Chelsea boss may approach Barcelona with a view to setting up a deal similar to that worked out for Romeu, where the Catalans would continue to hold a buy-back clause for the player during his first two years in England.
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