ORIOL Romeu described as “probably the best decision I’ve made,” closing down his social media accounts almost exactly a year ago, adding: “It can affect your game as well, definitely.”

The combative Saints midfielder shut down his Facebook and Instagram accounts and stopped regularly using Twitter a year ago this week, although he kept the latter open, “in case I need to say anything or make any statement”. 

Footballer social media has become a haven of PR disingenuity with regular paragraph-long apologathons for penalty misses and in-game mistakes – often clearly identifiable as posted by a player relations company, rather than the player his or herself.

But it’s because so many are turning their back on the online world and with good reason. In 2019, PFA figures showed that counselling services rose to a record 643, up almost 50% on the previous year.

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PFA director of player welfare Michael Bennett said social media meant there was "no escape from football".

A 2020-21 PFA report, powered by Signify, then identified that 44% of Premier League players received discriminatory abuse of some nature online, and 50% of abusive tweets were from UK based accounts – not bots based in China, Saudi Arabia, Russia or wherever.

“Has it been a year already?” Romeu asked the Daily Echo, “it’s probably been the best decision I’ve made.”

The 30-year-old continued: “It’s hard because some people may need that for their jobs or their companies but at that point, I thought I didn’t need it and it wasn’t making me any good.

Daily Echo: Oriol Romeu has developed a reputation as Saints' 'footballing hard-man' for his combative play (Pic: PA)Oriol Romeu has developed a reputation as Saints' 'footballing hard-man' for his combative play (Pic: PA)

“I don’t need it. I have just seen now the guys when we were in the hot tub or ice baths watching TikToks, Instagram stories or reels.

“I am just so pleased I am not there. It doesn’t fulfil me. I don’t enjoy it now.

“I would rather spend that time talking to friends or spending time with the family, dog, whatever.

“It was a decision that I had already decided but I thought about it for a long time. I am quite happy and I am going to stick to it, at least for another year.”

Daily Echo: Oriol Romeu has started every Premier League game of the campaign (Pic: PA)Oriol Romeu has started every Premier League game of the campaign (Pic: PA)

Romeu went on to admit that he too had got messages “you probably shouldn’t get”, during his time on his online accounts.

His official Twitter account has amassed over 30k followers, but top-end stars who have been subject to abuse, such as the likes of Wilfried Zaha, have up to or more than one million.

A heated online atmosphere came to a grim head following the European Championship final at Wembley Stadium this year, when three of England’s players – Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka – missed crucial penalties in the Italy shootout and were subject to countless instances of racist abuse.

Romeu revealed: “You get messages sometimes that probably you shouldn’t get, or you get to read things that can affect your mood.

“I wasn’t paying too much attention but you still read and see those things. Probably the ups and lows can be more extreme if you are on social media.”

He added: “But that’s something you need to control and something you should be aware of. I think everyone does but it can affect your game as well, definitely.”