Barcelona Faces Potential Financial Disaster Over Dani Olmo’s Registration Saga
Barcelona is at risk of incurring a massive financial hit if they fail to resolve the ongoing issue surrounding the registration of Dani Olmo.
The Spanish midfielder joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig in the summer for £47 million but was registered only temporarily due to LaLiga’s financial restrictions on the Catalan club. As the December 31 deadline approaches, Barcelona has been striving to secure Olmo’s long-term registration while also addressing similar concerns for teammate Pau Victor.
LaLiga Rejects Barcelona’s Proposal
On New Year’s Eve, LaLiga officially rejected Barcelona’s proposal to register both players. This decision has left Olmo’s future uncertain, as he could leave the club on a free transfer if the matter remains unresolved.
Olmo’s agent, Andy Bara, has reassured fans that the player is committed to staying at Barcelona and is “not considering any other option.” However, Premier League clubs are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, with Bara recently seen in Manchester amid the uncertainty.
The Financial Consequences
If Barcelona fails to register Olmo, the repercussions could be dire. According to Mundo Deportivo, the club would still owe RB Leipzig the full £47 million transfer fee, regardless of whether Olmo stays. Additionally, Barcelona would need to pay Olmo £41 million in wages for the remainder of his contract, which runs until 2030.
Olmo’s current market value stands at £53 million, according to Transfermarkt. Should he leave on a free transfer, Barcelona would forfeit any potential earnings from his sale, adding to the financial strain.
Revenue Shortfalls and Missteps
Barcelona recently attempted to address their financial woes by selling VIP boxes at the Nou Camp, currently under renovation. This effort generated £87 million in revenue. However, some experts believe the club could have doubled this amount if the sales process had not been rushed to meet LaLiga’s registration requirements for Olmo.
When combining the transfer fee, wages, missed market value, and lost potential revenue, Barcelona faces a staggering loss of approximately £218 million.
Hope Amid the Crisis
Despite the grim outlook, Barcelona remains optimistic about resolving the issue. Reports suggest the club is working to provide LaLiga with full payment documentation for the VIP boxes, which they believe will secure the registrations of Olmo and Victor.
The club aims to finalize all necessary documents by Friday, and insiders at the Nou Camp express confidence in resolving the matter. Olmo’s availability for Saturday’s Copa del Rey clash against Barbastro remains uncertain as Barcelona races against time.