Oriol Romeu has formally requested permission to leave Barcelona with less than 24 hours left until the winter transfer window closes, Gerard Romero claims.
Falling to the bottom of Xavi's pecking order, the midfielder has been linked with an exit for a while, with sides like Girona and Besiktas showing interest in the player.
However, according to the journalist, the Catalans won't let him go. The primary obstacle is the injury crisis that has plagued Barca, with nine first-team players currently sidelined. There's also barely time or finances to find a replacement for the midfielder.
While the Blaugrana are expected to pursue Girona's Aleix Garcia in the summer, the 32-year-old will have to continue in the capacity of a backup for the squad in the meantime.
Romeu has played 23 games for Barca this season, with his assist in the match against Betis back in September being his only goal contribution.
