Dani Olmo news: Spain midfielder in limbo as Barcelona left mired in uncertainty

This crisis includes sporting, financial and reputational dimensions.

On the pitch, Hansi Flick’s men now face the prospect of losing their summer signing – an asset who could soon go for free.

Financially, Barcelona must pay the full €48m (£40m) to RB Leipzig for Olmo, with his long-term contract running until 2030.

They must also pay him his full contract, a clause added to his contract which leaves the club with a €120m (£100m) financial hole.

And the debacle is rumored to tarnish the club’s image, particularly that of its president, Joan Laporta, who was voted in in March 2021.

Laporta, who has personally overseen this issue, now finds himself exposed.

Since the departure of CEO Ferran Reverter at the beginning of 2022 and the resignation of financial vice-president Eduard Romeu in 2024, two out of 20 directors who have been unable to accept the way things are run in club, declined to fill these crucial roles, leaving him solely responsible for the fallout.

The situation worsened further after Barcelona faced two swift legal defeats in less than 72 hours before the La Liga deadline, when the courts in Barcelona rejected the club’s requests for interim measures to register Olmo and Víctor.

With those avenues closed, Laporta approached the Spanish FA and requested new licenses for both players, something not accepted by La Liga, which does not allow a player to be registered by the same club twice in a season.

The federation, led by Rafael Louzan, has little incentive to challenge La Liga, especially after Tebas was recently named Louzan’s vice president. This alignment has left Barcelona without allies, making Laporta’s appeals futile.

The last glimmer of hope for Barcelona lies in a proposed deal to sell VIP seats at the future Spotify Camp Nou for 100-120 million euros – a sum significantly lower than what the club could have secured in less desperate circumstances.

Barcelona claim the funds have been paid, albeit after La Liga’s deadline, and are now trying to convince the league to accept the payment and allow registration of players.

However, La Liga maintains that Barcelona failed to submit the necessary documentation confirming the transaction before the deadline, meaning the club cannot re-register Olmo or Víctor.

Ironically, while Barcelona may be blocked from re-registering their players, they may still be able to sign new ones. Yet, to facilitate some of this, the club has had to pre-sell seats in a stadium that does not yet exist.