Oriol Romeu says he knows nothing of rumours linking him with a return to Barcelona from Chelsea next season.
The 20-year-old left Barca’s youth system last summer to sign for Chelsea in a deal worth €5m, although the Catalans retained the option to bring him back to the Camp Nou for €10m in 2012 or €15m in 2013 should the Londoners deem him surplus to requirements.
After a bright start to his Premier League career, when he was a regular under former boss Andres Villas-Boas, the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as caretaker manager saw him struggle to hold down a place in the starting line-up, finishing the season with 16 League appearances under his belt.
That has led to reports Oriol could be in line for a return to La Blaugrana, something he insists he has heard nothing about before referring back to his time with Barcelona.
“I don’t knowing anything about it and I have a contract with Chelsea,” the midfielder told a Press conference after training with the Spanish Olympic squad.
“When you are young sometimes you have to find things out away from home, and that’s not to say there are no opportunities here, but at Barca there are also lots of players who make it through to the first team.
“It is often customary for home-grown players to leave when they are not so well prepared, although when you are comfortable you do not have to go, so it depends upon a lot of factors and many things.”
Oriol gave his views on the way Luis Milla’s squad is progressing as preparations are stepped up before the trip to the United Kingdom.
“The team is doing really well, the intensity is good and we’ve had a few days hard training, so we are looking forward to playing with the ball.
“I think we will do well but we need to see that during a match,” declared Romeu, who will take part in the first pre-Olympic friendly against Senegal in Gran Canaria.
