Barcelona remain defiantly “optimistic” about their chances of securing Dani Olmo’s registration despite missing the La Liga deadline of December 31, 2024, according to a report in Spain.
Olmo was left out of Barcelona’s squad for the first two weeks of the season after his £60m move to Catalonia from RB Leipzig as there was no room in La Liga’s strict budget to include his wages. A serious injury to Andreas Christensen allowed Barcelona to grant Olmo a six-month registration, but the deadline for the extension expired at the end of 2024.
Two attempts by the club to extend the deadline were rejected by the city’s courts and Olmo was officially struck from La Liga records for the season on January 1. According to Article 130.2 of the RFEF General Regulations: “A player can only be registered with one team of the club during the same season.” Since Olmo’s registration has expired, he should theoretically not be allowed to be registered again with Barcelona until the summer.
However, the club insist that Olmo – and young striker Pau Victor, who finds himself in the same unfortunate position – will be allowed to play for the club again in La Liga this season. According to Spanish publication SPORTthe solution to this situation was described as “almost certain”.
Club president Joan Laporta is said to have collected around 120 million euros by selling the future rights to the VIP seats at the Camp Nou for the next 20 years as part of a deal with unnamed Qatari investors, thus securing the necessary economic injection to not only Olmo to register and Victor, but achieve the 1:1 rule, which allows a club to spend every euro it earns.
La Liga was reportedly kept abreast of any developments to avoid further surprises, such as when the club’s Nike deal was deemed inadequate, but the Spanish top flight released a statement on New Year’s Eve saying: “The FC Barcelona has not presented an alternative that would allow LALIGA, in accordance with economic control regulations, to register every player from January 2nd.”
Funds from Laporta’s seating agreement were not guaranteed until the end of 2024. Just two days later, reports said the funds had been “confirmed.” This development, coupled with the belief that Barcelona can justify Olmo’s situation as an “exceptional case”, has boosted the club’s confidence.
Olmo remained calm publicly – as did his manager Hansi Flick. However, Barcelona are keen to wrap up this sordid affair before Flick’s pre-match press conference on Friday, January 3 at 12pm GMT (4am PT, 7am ET).