Oriol Romeu has begun the preseason as a Girona player, despite strong rumors linking him to a return to Catalonia.
Xavi’s preference is said to be for his former teammate to join prior to FC Barcelona leaving for their US preseason tour.
Barcelona are hoping to pay less than his eight million euro release clause, but Girona are firm that they want the full amount. One option that has emerged is that the blaugrana would pay four million upfront, followed by four million in bonuses that would be easy to trigger.
Girona’s coach, Míchel Sánchez, did not comment on the Romeu situation.