FC Barcelona is grappling with serious challenges as it tries to secure the registration of Dani Olmo, who joined from RB Leipzig last summer. The situation has escalated as the deadline of December 31 looms, and the club must navigate complex financial regulations and the growing opposition from rival teams.
Currently, Olmo is registered only until the year's end, and FC Barcelona faces the added complication of Andreas Christensen returning from injury, which will add another player to the roster and complicate the registration process for Olmo. While the club's management expresses optimism about finding the necessary funds to register him, opposition from other LaLiga clubs is intensifying, creating significant hurdles.
Sevilla FC, along with Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club, has formally joined forces to block Olmo's registration. According to COPE's El Partidazo, Sevilla has voiced considerable concerns about Barcelona's financial situation and the tactics the club allegedly employed to facilitate player transfers. Their expressed distrust over Barcelona's financial dealings is tied to broader skepticism about compliance with LaLiga regulations.
This discontent from rivals isn't unfounded. Athletic Club's leadership feels particularly aggrieved, as FC Barcelona's interest in their player Nico Williams has complicated negotiations surrounding his contract renewal. They have called for LaLiga to adopt stricter measures to prevent such scenarios from repeating. Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid has both sporting and financial motivations, as Olmo's registration could negatively impact their competitiveness, leading them to view this opposition as profitable ground for pursuing negotiations for Clément Lenglet at a reduced price.
Joan Laporta, Barcelona's president, finds himself at the center of this complicated situation. Although he remains confident about meeting the financial requirements needed to register Olmo, pressure from rival clubs is forcing him to reconsider his strategies. This adds to what has been described as poor management, with reports highlighting the missing €60 million necessary for fiscal compliance with LaLiga.
Barcelona's attempts to remedy this fiscal gap have seen them take the legal route. The next ruling from presiding Judge Ignacio Fernández de Senespleda on December 27 will determine if the club can register Olmo by invoking the athlete’s right to work. Referencing precedents from cases like Gavi’s, where the court sided with the club, there is some hope. Still, nothing is guaranteed.
Barcelona’s legal maneuvers are under scrutiny as they look to argue their case before the judge. They believe recent injury to goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen provides financial leeway for Olmo's registration under LaLiga regulations. Yet, without this ruling, Barcelona faces the dire prospect of failing to register Olmo entirely.
If the courts decisively rule against Barcelona, the club has prepared what they call 'Plan B.' This alternative is to sell VIP boxes at the upcoming Spotify Camp Nou to generate revenue ranging from €120 million to €200 million. Such moves are not without risk; dependence on last-minute financial strategies reveals Barcelona's precarious financial standing, raising questions about their long-term fiscal health.
Having Olmo unregistered would not just be a matter of office failure; it could spell disaster for FC Barcelona. The young midfielder would lose the chance to contribute on the field for the rest of the season and could activate his contract clause allowing him to leave the club for free. Such moves might lead him to more prominent competition, severely damaging Barcelona's prestige as it aims to remain atop the list for elite football talent.
With the clock ticking, FC Barcelona finds itself walking a tightrope, where every decision has the potential to resonate beyond their internal dynamics. The upcoming court ruling, combined with strategies to surmount financial challenges, determines whether they can secure Dani Olmo's future at the club—an outcome unthinkable for this proud institution.
