FC Barcelona is facing significant challenges as the club's attempts to register players Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor were met with legal setbacks. The Juzgado de lo Mercantil number 10 of Barcelona issued a ruling on December 27, denying the club's request to enroll the players for the upcoming seasons due to financial regulations.
The denial is particularly troubling for the club, with the deadline for registration quickly approaching on December 31. This decision follows the club's failure to meet LaLiga’s financial fair play standards.
Barcelona had courted optimism for Olmo’s registration since acquiring the player from RB Leipzig under what was viewed as favorable conditions. Now, as the winter transfer window nears, the legal battles continue. The club argues it has grounds to challenge the registration laws, claiming they are enforced by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional's Comisión Delegada, which they assert lacks authority.
On December 27, the court ruled against Barcelona’s precautionary request to register Olmo and Pau Víctor until the end of the season. Citing the interpretation of financial regulations, the court ruled, "LaLiga has executed the same interpretation with all remaining teams of the same competition." The judge pointed out, based on Article 77 of the financial regulations, clubs can only replace players requiring long-term replacements by one other player—thus complicing Barcelona’s current financial situation.
Club president Joan Laporta had previously expressed hope of resolving these registration issues, stating, "Before December, we need to make LaLiga understand we've got sufficient income to be compliant with the 1:1 rule." The anticipated revenue boost from newly secured sponsorship with Nike was believed to contribute positively to the club's financial positioning. Unfortunately, these arguments did not sway LaLiga, which deemed the financial situation still untenable for entry this January.
LaLiga responded to the court’s decision favorably, asserting, "It would have severely altered the equality of competition rules," underlining their enforcement of regulations across the board. The league has made clear they view Barcelona's behavior as contrary to the spirit of maintaining fairness among clubs.
The consequences of this ruling are severe. Dani Olmo faces the possibility of becoming free on January 1 if FC Barcelona fails to register him. Such a scenario opens the door for interest from multiple Premier League clubs—rumors have already linked Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal to the young player.
Barcelona has stated there are several avenues still available for securing Olmo’s registration. Alongside the pending outcomes of continued judicial actions, potential revenue sources include selling VIP tickets for their future Spotify Camp Nou or even obtaining personal endorsements from board members, processes they have previously used to navigate similar financial crunches. Should the club secure the funds, they could finally register Olmo and continue with their season plans.
Compliance with LaLiga's financial metrics remains urgent for Barcelona. They are facing pressure on multiple fronts, as the next judicial hearing is scheduled for December 30. The club must find effective resolutions before the January 1 deadline, against a backdrop of mounting speculation about Olmo's future, who recently vacationed in the US, attending events with NBA stars, seemingly unbothered by the looming uncertainty back home.
With the clock ticking down, the stakes for FC Barcelona couldn’t be higher. The club must act decisively to resolve these financial obstacles—time is running out, and failure to register Olmo may lead to losing one of their key players.
