Barcelona midfielder did not train with team today ahead of Granada clash

As Barcelona continued their preparations for Sunday’s La Liga clash against Granada, there was a fresh absence in group training today.

Indeed, as Xavi Hernandez put his players through their paces today at Ciutat Esportiva, midfielder Oriol Romeu was not part of the group training sessions, reports Victor Navarro.

This was the last session before Sunday’s clash against Granada, but the defensive midfielder was not in the group training and instead did some individual work.

Romeu, 32, had been a regular in the side in the early stages of the campaign soon after his arrival from Girona in the summer transfer window.

The Spaniard has not been playing regularly in recent weeks, with Xavi overlooking him after his form took a major nosedive towards the end of 2023.

Barça have preferred the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gundogan, and even Andreas Christensen (against Alaves) in the pivot midfield position ahead of Romeu in recent games.

And, with the former Chelsea and Southampton midfielder not participating in group training today, it casts doubts over his availability for tomorrow’s clash against Granada.

Nothing is certain though but the report from Victor Navarro states that Barcelona will not release the squad list today and will do so tomorrow, likely giving Romeu enough time to recover.

Even if he does, the likelihood of him featuring at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys tomorrow seems unlikely. Instead, Christensen is primed to start as the defensive midfielder once again.

Along with Romeu’s availability being uncertain, Barcelona are also without Sergi Roberto, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres, and Joao Felix for the game. Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Raphinha will receive their medical green lights today.