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Barcelona’s Struggle to Register Dani Olmo
Missed Deadline Raises Questions Over Olmo’s Future at Barcelona
Barcelona remains “optimistic” about their chances of securing Dani Olmo’s registration despite missing the La Liga deadline on December 31, 2024. The club had faced significant challenges in registering the €60m (£50m) signing from RB Leipzig, and while the deadline was missed, Barcelona are hopeful about resolving the issue.
Dani Olmo’s Challenging Start at Barcelona
Olmo was initially left out of Barcelona’s squad at the start of the season due to the club’s budget constraints under La Liga’s strict financial regulations. His move to Barcelona was delayed by salary cap issues, leaving him sidelined for the first two weeks of the season. The club managed to register him temporarily after Andreas Christensen’s injury, but the extension was only valid until the end of 2024, and the registration was officially removed on January 1.
According to the RFEF General Regulations (Article 130.2), a player can only be registered with one team during the same season, meaning Olmo’s registration technically expires until the summer. Despite this, Barcelona remains confident that Olmo, along with young striker Pau Victor, will be able to return to La Liga action this season.
Barcelona’s Efforts to Resolve the Situation
The club president, Joan Laporta, reportedly secured around €120m by selling the future rights to Camp Nou’s VIP seating to Qatari investors, which was expected to provide the financial boost needed to register Olmo and Pau Victor. This deal also ensured Barcelona’s compliance with the “1:1 rule,” which allows clubs to spend every euro they earn.
Despite the setback, Barcelona believes Olmo’s case can be considered an “exceptional case,” which could help in overcoming the registration issues. The club has been in constant communication with La Liga to avoid any further complications, especially after issues like the club’s Nike deal being deemed insufficient.
La Liga’s Response and Barcelona’s Confidence
La Liga issued a statement on New Year’s Eve stating that Barcelona had not presented a viable alternative to register any players. However, reports quickly emerged that the funds from Laporta’s seating agreement had been confirmed just days after the deadline. This development, alongside the belief that Olmo’s situation can be resolved as an exceptional case, has bolstered Barcelona’s confidence in finalizing the matter.
Olmo’s Calm and Barcelona’s Urgency
Dani Olmo has publicly remained calm about the situation, as has his manager, Hansi Flick. However, Barcelona is eager to resolve the issue promptly, with the club hoping to finalize the registration before the next match preparations.
