Rômulo played few matches for the club in 2005 and 2006, but in the year of 2007 he had his first real chances in the first team, with coach Joel Santana.
He played in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2007 17 matches, all of them as a starter.
Although, in a derby match against Vasco da Gama he suffered a serious injury, a rupture in the knee ligaments and had been out of action for six months.
Out of coach Caio Júnior's plans he was loaned to Paraná and played in the Brazilian Série B until the end of 2008.
In 2009 Rômulo had a five month loan on Figueirense, he had six appearances, including two matches on Copa do Brasil.