Oriol Romeu today insisted he shouldn't be
compared with Cesc Fabregas
and is committed to playing
for Chelsea
rather than returning to
Barcelona one day.
Romeu was officially unveiled
today having completed a £4.35 million move from the European
champions earlier this summer. The deal involved a buy-back clause
where Barcelona can resign the 19-year-old midfielder for €10
million after one year or €15 million after two.
Like Fabregas, Romeu came through
the academy system at Barcelona but has had to move to the
Premier League as a teenager in order to get first-team
football.
Fabregas spent eight years
at Arsenal before completing a dream move back to Barcelona
this summer.
But Romeu said: "I think the case
with Fabregas is different. We left under different
circumstances.
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"My intention is not to think
about the future, I'm concentrating on this season. I'm not worried
about that [the buy-back clause]. It's not my intention to move.
Chelsea have given me this great opportunity and I want to play as
many games as possible. I could have stayed at Barca but I want to
take advantage of this chance."
Another new signing, £18 million
striker Romelu Lukaku, insisted he has not been bought to
replace Didier
Drogba, who has yet to
agree terms on a new contract. Lukaku said: "I want to keep
learning from him. For me he is a world-class striker."