It’s activated! Amid a flurry of activity and new formations at Old Trafford, optimism appears to have waned. Meanwhile, FC Barcelona find themselves racing against time to secure the registration of their star midfielder, Dani Olmo, for the second half of the upcoming season.
Having joined the club from Red Bull Leipzig for a whopping £50 million, Olmo’s initial registration was only a temporary measure valid until the end of this year, a situation dictated by regulations ongoing financial LaLiga affecting the Catalan club.
Barcelona’s second attempt to register the winner of Euro 2024 was met with disappointment on Monday when it was rejected by Court of First Instance 47 in Barcelona. As a result, Olmo could be set to leave as a free player in January if the Spanish Football federation maintains its block against his registration, pushing the club to further cut costs, discover new sources of revenue and respect protocols financial.
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Reports in Spain indicate that the club are leaving no stone unturned in their attempts to rectify the situation before the strict deadline of 11:59 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Failure to secure Olmo’s registration would make him ineligible to play for FC Barcelona from January 1, in accordance with point 5 of Article 141 of the league regulations, which states that ‘footballers whose license is canceled will not be able, during the same season, to obtain a license from the same team of the club to which they were previously linked.’
Although it is hard to believe, the talented Dani Olmo could soon be kicked out of his beloved FC Barcelona, a scenario he desperately opposes. His agent, Andy Bara, expressed Olmo’s wishes, saying: ‘Dani has made it clear that he wants to STAY at FC Barcelona. We are NOT considering other options. Dani’s desire is to play for Barcelona.’
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Unfortunately for the 26-year-old, his future may be slipping away despite the club’s efforts, which reportedly include ingenious methods to generate sufficient revenue as required by the league.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have forwarded additional documents relating to the sale of VIP seats at the under-construction Spotify Camp Nou, the return of which is estimated to be around €100m (£83m). Additionally, pressure would be placed on LaLiga from other clubs such as Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, with the ‘delegated committee and auditor eagerly awaiting clarification on the details.’
If Olmo is indeed pushed out of the club he has always supported, a host of Premier League clubs will be lining up to secure his talents. Major players like Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are all keen to welcome the versatile midfielder into their ranks, according to reports in Spain.
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Interestingly, Arsenal were the first among England’s elite to express interest in Olmo, with both Manchester clubs also keen to land the Spain international, whose agent has been making waves in the city last week .
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Olmo made a huge impact on the pitch, scoring five goals in 11 LaLiga games, helping Hansi Flick’s side to a respectable third-place position in the league.
Not to be overlooked, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen are also weighing their options regarding the attacking midfielder, with his former club Leipzig ensuring he still has a home there should he return.
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Over the weekend, Paris Saint-Germain also entered the fray as they look for creative reinforcements, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki’s name also mentioned amid their financial woes. PSG coach Luis Enrique, known to Olmo for their time together with the Spanish national team, is keeping a close eye on this developing situation in Barcelona.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Olmo apparently maintains his professionalism, committed to meeting his contractual obligations through 2030. In fact, he was spotted training diligently as early as 10 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, fully immersed in his routine, even if the fog of uncertainty hovers largely around him.
