Dani Olmo’s saga with Barcelona has taken a dramatic turn, casting the La Masia graduate into the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Once a promising academy product, Olmo was let go by Barça and spent 10 years honing his craft with Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig. However, his stellar performances in recent years convinced Barcelona to bring him back. Last summer, they secured his return for €60 million (753 crore BDT) from Leipzig.
Unfortunately, bureaucracy and financial limitations have marred Olmo’s homecoming. Due to La Liga’s strict wage cap rules, Barcelona faced delays registering Olmo for the first half of the season. La Liga only approved his registration for the initial phase, leaving the club bracing for trouble when the second half of the season arrived.
Now, Barcelona is racing against the clock. If they cannot resolve the financial issues and register Olmo with La Liga by tonight, the attacking midfielder will become a free agent. That would mean any club could sign him without paying a transfer fee, leaving Barça powerless to intervene.
The situation worsens as Barcelona also owes RB Leipzig €48 million (602 crore BDT) for Olmo’s transfer. On top of that, the club must cover his full contract salary and potential damages through 2030. Financially, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Catalan giants.
Barcelona tried to buy time by appealing to the Spanish courts, requesting an extension until January 31 to register Olmo. However, their plea was denied. La Liga issued a statement rejecting any exceptions, stating, “Barcelona has not undertaken any alternative measures that would justify granting registration approval.”
As of now, Barcelona is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Without sufficient funds, Olmo is turning into a massive financial and administrative headache. The club is scrambling to raise money by selling VIP box seats at Camp Nou, a move they hope could generate around €100 million (1,255 crore BDT), enough to meet La Liga’s wage cap requirements.
Despite the turmoil, Barcelona President Joan Laporta and coach Hansi Flick remain optimistic about retaining Olmo. His agent, Andy Bara, also expressed faith in the club, stating, “Barcelona is the first and only option. Dani, his family, and I are not considering alternatives. While this situation is challenging, Dani is staying calm and focused.”
The clock is ticking, and tonight will determine whether Olmo stays with his boyhood club or walks away as a free agent. For now, Barcelona’s financial troubles have turned their once-beloved homegrown star into a massive dilemma.
