“If the Moon were a ball, my grandson would go up, kick and score goals against all the planets.” Whoever says this is Miracles Strongthe grandmother of Dani Olmo, one of the most sought-after players in football at the moment.
The new European champion with Spain and a direct protagonist in saving England’s equalising goal in the final in Berlin, the striker from Egar has now become one of the stars of LaLiga. He has just signed for Barça, a club he has returned to after training since he was a child at La Masía (he then joined from Espanyol) and then trying his luck with great success in Croatia (Dinamo Zagreb) and Germany (Red Bull Leipzig).
The time has come to return home. Barely half an hour separates Barcelona from Tarrasa, his hometown. A trip after so many years away from Spain. He is doing so for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2030, and his release clause is set at 500 million euros. The cost of the operation, just over 60 million euros. “I’ll have him close by, yes,” says his grandmother smiling.
Dani Olmo celebrates the last European Championship with his teammates from the Spanish national team.
EFE
«Dani Olmo is registered by Barça until 31 December 2024. If Barça cannot generate registration capacity, he will not be registered on 1 January 2025.» Javier Gómez, Corporate General Manager of LaLiga, clarified yesterday the rule by which Barcelona were able to register his signing instead of Christensen.
The truth is that Dani Olmo made his debut with the Blaugrana last Tuesday. He did so in Vallecas and in an unbeatable way, taking the team on his back and completing Barça’s comeback against Rayo (1-2). A true leader.
«His priority has always been football»
This debut with the first team of the Catalans came just when his paternal grandmother Milagros Forte, a resident of Tarrasa for many decades, had just landed in El Puerto de Santa María to spend a few days. “Of course I was able to see him. I was very emotional. Dani deserves it because his priority has always been football. “He has reached the place he has reached because he has not stopped for a moment. Beyond his quality and the pinch of luck that is always necessary, he has been very consistent and now he has his reward,” he says.
Milagros Forte, Dani Olmo’s grandmother.
A. v.
This is not the first time that her grandson’s debut coincides with her in Cádiz. In November 2019, she was present at the Carranza Stadium to celebrate Dani Olmo’s debut with the Spanish national team. It was unforgettable because she scored and Spain beat Malta (7-0).
This woman from El Puerto, raised in the centre, between the streets Federico Rubio and San Bartolomé, still can’t believe it. “He goes from one success to another. I see him there and I get excited,” she says. At that moment, Mari Carmen, one of her sisters present in the conversation, adds: “It is totally deserved because Dani has sacrificed many years to fulfil his dream.”
Dani Olmo is one of Milagros’ eight grandchildren, who met Manuel Olmo in Catalonia, an immigrant from Jaén with whom she had seven children, including Miguel Olmo, Dani’s father, a former player, coach and agent of the footballer. “My son, who is also a scout, doesn’t stop. He goes from one place to another with the issue of representing footballers. One day I call him and he’s in Madrid, another in Italy… How stressful! He has been able to advise Dani very well.he assures.
Dani’s grandmother emphasizes that he is a shy boy off the pitchbut he transforms when he plays and shows his self-confidence. His good nature also stands out. «He reminds me a lot of my husbandwho passed away in May 2023 at the age of 94. You will never see a bad word or a bad gesture from him. In fact, when he scores a goal, he looks up to the sky in his honour,” he explains. A celebration that adds to another already characteristic of him: the celebration, called ‘Dame Time’ is due to the NBA player Damian Lillard (formerly of Portland and, currently, player of Milwaukee Bucks), accustomed to scoring baskets at decisive moments. There he points out the time on an imaginary clock.
Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo celebrate the decisive goal scored by the player from Egar against Rayo Vallecano last Tuesday.
EFE
«Laporta is very pleasant to be around»
«Grandma Milagros’ summer is being tremendous, eh. You don’t miss a single one, hahaha». The one speaking is María José, Milagros Forte’s younger sister. And so it is, since she has been at the reception held at the Town Hall of Tarrasa for Dani Olmo after winning the Eurocup and at the presentation of the footballer as a new Barça player.
«I would have liked to go to the Euro Cup“But it wasn’t possible. My children were also keen, but they thought it would be better for me to stay in Tarrasa because I use a crutch and the distances were important there when it came to getting to the stadium. It hurt them more than me that I couldn’t go. But boy did I enjoy watching it on TV!” he says.
The moment Dani Olmo prevents England from scoring in the Euro 2019 final.
EFE
However, what she did not miss was the reception at the Town Hall of Tarrasa, with the mayor of Egar, Jordi Ballart, present. “I went there with her maternal grandparents and we had a great time. It was very emotional and we even sat on the balcony. Now I am a well-known grandmother, you see,” she remembers.
But, without a doubt, one of the highlights of the summer came when his grandson was presented by Barça. «He welcomed us the doorthe president of Barça. He made a very good impression on me at short distances. He said that Dani Olmo was a great signing, but not the only one. He was going to sign me for the youth teamhahaha,” he says.
«I’ll be in El Puerto for a few days before returning to Tarrasa. Now I’ll watch Barça – Valladolid, to see if Dani scores another goal and wins again. I hope to be there to support the next one. It’s a shame that Cádiz CF isn’t in the First Division now because I could make another trip this season to see my grandson here», he says while greeting lifelong El Puerto residents, those he hasn’t lost track of because he frequently goes down to the Barriada del Pilar, where part of his family’s home is in El Puerto.
Maria Jose Forte, Mari Carmen Forte, Merche Macaria and Milagros Forte this weekend at La Ponderosa – El Puerto Brewery.
A. V.
Accompanied by her sisters and her friend Merche Macaria, before leaving, she says to the waitress at La Ponderosa, where she has breakfast: “Girl, give me the recipe for churros because they don’t believe they are so fine there and I’m not going to take them on the plane.” Genius and character.
And he adds with great skill: “Dani always slept with a ball. And if my head were at his feet, I’m sure it would also help him score. But I say this in a good way, eh, because he is crazy about that sport. What a kid with football! “Everything he has he has earned. I always ask the Virgin of Miracles, the Patron Saint of El Puerto, to help him.”
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