Barcelona had a flying start to the season under their new manager Hansi Flick. Their momentum has fizzled out in recent months, however, with only win to show for their last five LaLiga outings. The burden of their financial troubles has come to light once again, with Dani Olmo contract situation drawing significant attention from the media.
Dani Olmo Contract Situation: What’s Going On?
Barcelona’s financial woes have repeatedly placed the club in challenging positions over recent seasons. The situation came to a head in 2021 when they were unable to retain their superstar Lionel Messi, but the struggles have continued in the years following the departure of their iconic forward.
The club has a history of finding ways around La Liga’s tough financial regulations, but registering Dani Olmo for 2025 is proving to be a daunting task. While they managed to obtain a short-term exemption when he joined, that arrangement has lapsed, and they are now grappling with how to bring him back into the squad.
So, what’s the current Dani Olmo contract situation? If this matter remains unresolved, the consequences for the club could be severe, impacting both their finances and their reputation. President Joan Laporta could also find himself facing substantial fallout.
Dani Olmo joined Barcelona last summer in a €55 million transfer from German outfit RB Leipzig. However, the Catalan club’s dire financial position prevented them from complying with La Liga’s stringent financial regulations. As a result, neither Olmo nor fellow signing Pau Victor could be registered for league competition, as doing so would have breached La Liga’s salary cap.
The league granted Barcelona a special exemption. So, Dani Olmo and Pau Victor had the green light to play until 31 December. After that, the club would be required to prove their financial compliance to register the duo for the remainder of the campaign. The club justified this exemption by citing unexpected delays in the Camp Nou renovation as a ‘force majeure’ circumstance.
WhatCan Barcelona Do?
Barcelona sought to secure a second temporary registration to allow Olmo and Víctor to participate in the second half of the league season. But, the court turned down their request. La Liga welcomed the decision, stating it was based on the grounds that ‘none of the necessary conditions for the adoption of an interim measure have been met.’ The club lodged an appeal, but this too was dismissed.
Even though the deadline for registering Olmo for the second half of the season has lapsed, reports suggest Barcelona remain optimistic about finding a solution.
Barcelona have taken various steps to prove they are financially sound enough to register the players without breaching the rules. These include securing a new sponsorship agreement with Nike in November and arguing that future revenues from VIP box rights at the renovated Camp Nou will ensure their long-term viability.
The Catalonians will have to terminate Olmo’s contract if they fail to reach an agreement. Or, they can choose to pay the Swede’s wages and convince him to stay without playing till the situation resolves. If Dani Olmo contract gets terminated, the playmaker will be available to sign for free.
