In a bold financial maneuver, FC Barcelona are prepared to terminate the contract of Oriol Romeu to ensure Marcus Rashford can be registered for official competition. Rashford, who joined the Catalan giants on a season-long loan from Manchester United, is yet to be registered due to La Liga’s strict salary cap regulations.
The 27-year-old made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe, showing promising signs of integration into Hansi Flick’s system. But until Barcelona clear space on their wage bill, Rashford cannot participate in any competitive matches. Despite optimism from Rashford’s camp, the clock is ticking as the new La Liga season approaches.
Barcelona’s financial struggles have been well documented. Last season, they overspent relative to revenue, pushing them over the league’s wage limits. Even with departures like Ansu Fati and Clément Lenglet, the club must still offload additional salaries to become compliant.
The next name on the chopping block is Oriol Romeu. Once seen as a reliable squad option, the former Chelsea and Southampton midfielder spent last season on loan at Girona. However, with Girona choosing not to activate the purchase clause, Romeu has returned to a team that no longer counts on him.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have informed the 33-year-old that he is not part of their future plans. Discussions are already underway to reach a mutual agreement that will see the final year of his contract terminated early.
Meanwhile, the club is working to generate new revenue, including a projected £100 million from VIP seating at the renovated Nou Camp. But commercial deals alone won’t be enough. Barcelona need to trim their wage bill, and Romeu’s exit could be one of the key steps to unlock Rashford’s registration.
Rashford is expected to feature in the remaining pre-season tour matches in Asia, including games against FC Seoul and Daegu FC. These matches are not subject to La Liga’s registration rules, giving him valuable time to build chemistry with his new teammates.
He’s also in line to feature in the Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Italian side Como, now managed by Cesc Fàbregas. However, the real focus remains on getting him registered for the league season.
Barcelona kick off their La Liga campaign on August 16 against Mallorca. With the Nou Camp renovations ongoing, their first home game won’t be until September 14 against Valencia. The hope is that by then, the club would have finalized Romeu’s exit and opened the door for Rashford’s competitive debut.
Failure to do so could see the England international sidelined indefinitely—something both player and club are eager to avoid. For now, Barcelona’s financial jigsaw continues, and Romeu looks set to be the latest piece removed from the puzzle to make way for a star the club hopes will reignite their attacking firepower.