New FC Barcelona signing Dani Olmo beamed about an “unbeatable” scoring MVP debut against Rayo … [+] Vallecano on Tuesday and was hailed by teammate Pedri after helping mount a 2-1 second half comeback.
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New FC Barcelona signing Dani Olmo beamed to DAZN Espana about an “unbeatable” scoring MVP debut against Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday and was hailed by teammate Pedri after helping mount a 2-1 second half comeback.
Nearly three weeks after being signed from RB Leipzig in a deal that could surpass $60 million in value, Olmo finally made a long-awaited senior debut for his boyhood club after being provisionally registered at the turn of the week.
Barca went down into the tunnel trailing 1-0 in Vallecas at half time. Yet in an inspired substitution by Hansi Flick, Olmo replaced Ferran Torres to star in attacking midfield which caused Raphinha to drift to the left wing.
In a slick attack with Pedri, the Brazilian helped set the number 8 up for the Blagurana’s equalizer.
And while Robert Lewandowski had a strike ruled out by VAR, a gamechanging Olmo who gave Barca a much-needed spark struck eight minutes from time to guarantee that the visitors maintained their 100% record in La Liga thus far.
“I waited for many days, since I arrived I longed for the first game, the debut, and what better way [to mark it],” Olmo said in a short-post match interview with local broadcaster DAZN.
“It had been many years since we won here so [it has been] unbeatable,” he added about his first outing in Blaugrana as a professional.
While Flick previously claimed that Olmo wasn’t fit enough to play, the 26-year-old stressed how, “I felt very good, I was really looking forward to it.”
“I felt very good physically, ready to play, and very happy to have made my debut and helped the team.”
Able to play in a number of positions in the centre of the park and attack, Olmo vowed that, “wherever the coach puts me I will try to give my best”.
“Today he put me in midfield behind Robert but I can play on both wings and wherever I play I will try to give my best. I always look to find chances, Lamien found me very well, I finished very well so it was a good goal,” Olmo concluded.
Saying that he was happy to play with his Spain teammate at club level after they won the Euros together this summer, Pedri underlined how Olmo “gives us a lot of peace of mind”.
“He plays with one or two touches, and when he has to turn, he turns. He understands football very well and he will help us a lot,” Pedri predicted.
