Barcelona's efforts to secure Dani Olmo's registration for the second half of the season have met another setback. The Spanish club has faced rejection twice from courts concerning their attempts to extend Olmo's registration, which is valid only until December 31. This hardball situation puts Olmo's future at Barcelona in jeopardy, casting uncertainty on the highly coveted midfielder's tenure.
Initially, Olmo's registration was temporarily facilitated by exploiting the injury of fellow player Andreas Christensen, allowing the club to maneuver around salary cap restrictions set by LaLiga. Now, as the end of the year looms, Barcelona finds itself under immense pressure to navigate these financial constraints amid looming interest from prestigious Premier League clubs.
Barcelona's recent bid to extend Olmo's registration hit another wall when the Court of First Instance 47 of the commercial sector denied their request for precautionary measures, reiterates Mundo Deportivo. After making Olmo's signing from RB Leipzig for £50 million last summer, officials believed they could manage the financial regulations but have come up short amid mounting debts.
The crux of the issue lies with financial fair play (FFP) rules. LaLiga stipulates strict compliance where clubs can only spend €1 for every €1 earned. Barcelona's leeway led them to leverage these regulations earlier this year, temporarily registering Olmo until the end of December. Unfortunately, with the registration deadline closing, and due to Barcelona's poor financial standing, efforts for sustainable finances came too late.
The situation is particularly precarious because Olmo's contract includes a clause granting him the ability to depart as a free agent if the club cannot successfully register him. His impressive record since joining the club—scoring six goals across 15 appearances—has only intensified interest from clubs like Manchester City and Manchester United, both of whom are reportedly circling.
This risk of losing Olmo stems from Barcelona's inability to finalize sufficient resources for renewal. According to reports, the Blaugrana are pinning hopes on the validation of the sale of VIP boxes located within the newly renovated Camp Nou. The structured deal, estimated at around €120 million, aims to smooth over the club’s finances and to provide necessary funds for fulfilling registration needs.
Barcelona's president Joan Laporta met with coach Hansi Flick to discuss potential avenues to mitigate this concern. They have exhausted legal routes, including claims for alleged FFP inconsistencies, which have so far yielded no favorable outcome from the courts. Now, the sale of the VIP box rights is projected as the only viable option to resolve the current impasse.
Despite these hurdles, there remains some optimism within the club about eventually securing Olmo’s registration. Reports have indicated Barcelona has negotiated deals valued at around €100 million for the VIP seats, pending approval from LaLiga. President Laporta expressed confidence about the impending clearance from the league, emphasizing the importance of this financial influx on future operating capabilities.
Nevertheless, every passing hour until the registration deadline sends waves of anxiety through Barcelona supporters and management alike, as the reality of their current predicament looms large. If they fail to address Olmo's situation before January, the blossoming starhead might take his talents to England, leaving behind the club where he began his youth career.
Should registration fail, and Olmo secures his exit, the pressure shifts back to Barcelona to find reinforcements quickly. The possible loss of Olmo would come at great cost for Barcelona, both financially and strategically, especially as they gear up for the second half of the season.
At this juncture, Barcelona faces not only the challenge of holding on to one of their standout players but also the pressing need to demonstrate stability amid financial turbulence and compliance with league regulations.