Barcelona midfielder’s January move to Besiktas collapsed due to terrorist attacks

Barcelona had a relatively quiet January transfer window on paper, with the club not having to negotiate any departures.

Oriol Romeu was the closest to leaving the club in January. The midfielder was closely linked with a move to Besiktas, with Joan Laporta even reaching an agreement.

But the move was ruled out at the last minute after the player’s entourage decided not to move to Besiktas.

Here’s why Romeu rejected Besiktas

In a recent statement, Besiktas president Hasan Arat has shed more light on Oriol Romeu’s Besiktas saga, confirming that it was the player’s wife who convinced Romeu not to join Besiktas.

Arat, the president, said Romeu did not want to join Besiktas because of concerns over an attack on a church in Istanbul. He also confirmed that Barcelona had reached an agreement with Besiktas.

“President Laporta allowed the transfer of Oriol Romeu, and an agreement was reached with the player, but this transfer was not carried out because his wife considered, with a view to the future, the attacks on the Sariyer church,” he said (h/t Diario AS).

Oriol Romeu rejected a move to Besiktas in January (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

Blessing in disguise for Barça?

This is a significant revelation, as far as Oriol Romeu’s future is concerned. Barcelona, though, won’t feel too impacted by the botched transfer, as they could use the midfielder’s services during the second half of the season.

Barça are already reeling from a lack of depth in the midfield unit right now, especially with Gavi being ruled out with a long-term injury.

Pedri, too, has suffered multiple injury problems lately, leaving Xavi with minimal options in the middle of the park.

To that end, Oriol Romeu’s presence could always give Barcelona an additional option in midfield, even though the former Girona star’s performances have been far from brilliant.