Romeu has Kante quality now
CLAUDE PUEL is backing Oriol Romeu to derail his former club after claiming the Spanish midfielder is Southampton’s version of N’Golo Kante.
Despite flopping at Chelsea, Romeu, 25, has been one of Saints’ stand-out performers this season, earning admiring glances from another former side, Barcelona.
And his manager Puel believes Romeu can become as good as the Blues’ newly crowned PFA Player of the Year Kante.
“He is not far away from Kante,” said Puel. “He brings the same qualities. He is a very professional player and always shows good spirit in training and games.
“He learnt with Barcelona. He reads the game and his passing and quality on the pitch is very important for us.” Romeu spent four years at Chelsea after making his name playing for Barcelona’s B team under Luis Enrique but failed to impress at Stamford Bridge.
Puel says he is finally living up to his potential thanks to the Saints’ possession-based style.
Puel said: “The game of Southampton is a little different to previous seasons. We try to start from the back and in this position Oriol is very important. He works to be available every time for his teammates and starts play.
“He has good passes, good technique and good control. He is the perfect player to play this game.”
Romeu returns from a two-match ban but defender Virgil van Dijk’s knee injury is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.