Lionel Messi's former team-mate has a role to play in dashing Man City's domestic treble dream - with Oriol Romeu bringing 'old-school' qualities to Southampton

Ex-Barcelona star Romeu returned to St Mary's as a free agent

Now 34 years of age, La Masia academy graduate Romeo retraced steps to St Mary’s in November 2025. He had been a free agent since

The all-action midfielder previously spent seven memorable seasons with the Saints between 2015 and 2022, having also graced English football during a spell at Chelsea that saw him form part of FA Cup and Champions League-winning squads.

With his vast experience being factored into the equation, Southampton welcomed the opportunity to bring a familiar face back onto their books when searching for a spark early on in the 2025-26 Championship campaign.

Romeu has made just seven appearances for the Saints - the last of those coming on February 28 - with Tonda Eckert favouring a tactical approach that does not play to the Spaniard’s many strengths when filling a holding role.

Southampton have been faring admirably without him, going 20 games unbeaten across all competitions, and are now counting down the days to a FA Cup semi-final date with Premier League giants City - having

Explained: What Romeu brings to the Southampton squad

A travelling army of supporters is preparing to descend on Wembley Stadium, with the club’s official training kit partner preparing to carry several of those on the

Former Saints striker Long told

“I always said, ‘if I ever went to a war, I'd want Oriol beside me’. He's that sort of character. Even though he's not playing, I'm sure he's the first out in training and the last to leave. He is so professional.

“He's knowledgeable about the game, obviously, being at Chelsea and Barcelona. His whole demeanour is infectious for all the players around him.

“It was a great signing to get him in, to get him part of the dressing room because there's a lot of inexperienced players there. They're still finding their foothold in the game. If they do go to the Premier League, I'm sure that would be vital for them as well.”

Long added on Romeu’s knowhow, with there

Is there still a place for 'old-school' tactics in modern football?

Romeu could be relied upon to

Asked if there is still a place for that “old-school” approach in modern football, as Davids attempt to slay Goliaths by ruffling a few feathers and taking a physical approach to on-field battles, Long added: “Yes, you want to show your physicality, but the problem with City, it's hard to get close enough to kick them at times! They keep the ball so well and they move it and they don't give you the opportunity to get too close to them.

“There is a little bit of that. I know when I played against younger defenders at bigger teams, I suppose my experience was the thing I had above them and kind of holding them in the right place and playing off their back shoulder and stuff they're not used to.

“Those old-school tactics, I suppose do go a long way, but Saints play a lot of football as well. They need to be able to mix it up, but at the same time, they're flying at the moment. They're winning games and scoring goals for fun. You don't want to change that too much.”

How will Southampton fare when facing Haaland and Co?

Whoever starts at Wembley, Long has encouraged those that get the nod to embrace the sense of occasion and look to enjoy themselves. He said of

“It's just being tight and sticking to your game plan because Man City can put you into a situation where you think, ‘oh yeah, we've got set’, and then they'll just switch it on. So just staying alert all game and trying to prevent Haaland from bursting through the fence. The thing is with Man City, you stop Haaland, you've still got 10 other players that can score a goal - even the keeper!

“It's going to be tough but they've done well this season, they've stayed in games until the end. They've won the fourth round game in extra-time, and late winners in two matches, so they're never doubting themselves. It's a good mentality they have at the moment.”

Promotion-chasing Saints taking the Midnite Express to Wembley Stadium

The Saints will head to Wembley on the back of a 2-2 draw with Bristol City on Tuesday. Said result has

Southampton fans asked, Midnite delivered as the in-demand Midnite Express returns with free luxury coach travel for the club’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday, April 25. Midnite, Southampton’s official training kit partner, has run exciting fan-led initiatives throughout the 2025/26 campaign, including the first Midnite Express when Saints played Sheffield United earlier this season.