Spanish Midfielder Romeu Returns to Barcelona on Three-Year Deal 

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
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Spanish Midfielder Romeu Returns to Barcelona on Three-Year Deal 

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu attends a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on July 19, 2023. (AFP)

Barcelona has re-signed former academy player Oriol Romeu from Girona with the midfielder signing a three-year deal, the LaLiga champions said on Wednesday.

Romeu came through Barca's youth academy and made his senior team debut in 2010 before moving to Chelsea a year later. The 31-year-old also had loan spells at Valencia and Stuttgart before spending seven years at Southampton.

He spent a year at Girona where he was a crucial figure clocking up more than 3,000 minutes to guide them to 10th before making his return to Barca, with 20-year-old midfielder Pablo Torre moving the other way on loan.

"Romeu has great experience and knows the club from his previous spell as a blaugrana and the style of play Xavi Hernandez wants to impress on his team," Barca said in a statement.

"The midfielder has shown what he can do in LaLiga and will look to perform right from the off."

The club have inserted a buyout clause of 400 million euros ($449.12 million) in his contract.

Romeu is Barca's fourth signing in the close season after Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez while Vitor Roque will join the club next year.



Injured Real Madrid Goalie Courtois to Miss Champions League Game

 Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Injured Real Madrid Goalie Courtois to Miss Champions League Game

 Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss Real Madrid’s match at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday because of a muscle injury.

Following tests on Monday, Courtois was diagnosed with an abductor injury in his left leg, Madrid said.

Courtois was hurt in the 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league derby on Sunday. He played the entire match at Metropolitano Stadium.

Madrid began the defense of its Champions League title by beating Stuttgart 3-1 at home.

Included in Madrid’s squad was Kylian Mbappé, who missed the derby against Atletico because of a hamstring injury.