Barcelona's bid to retain Dani Olmo rejected by court, star's future in doubt

Barcelona's Bid to Retain Dani Olmo Rejected by Court, Star's Future in Doubt

A Spanish court has rejected Barcelona's request to register playmaker Dani Olmo beyond December 31, raising concerns about the star's potential departure from the Catalan club.

Signed last summer from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for a reported €60 million, Olmo's registration has been entangled in financial constraints stemming from La Liga's spending limits on wages and transfers. Initially registered through December using an exception tied to injured defender Andreas Christensen's salary, Barcelona sought to extend Olmo's eligibility until June 30, 2025.

However, the court dismissed the club's claims, ruling that the exception's purpose is to address competitive balance caused by long-term injuries, not to bypass financial caps. "The aim of authorising the overspend is so that a long-term injury does not undermine the team's competition, not so that the long-term injury allows the registration of players who exceed the limit with their salary," the ruling stated.

Reports suggest Olmo's contract, set to run until 2030, includes a release clause if he cannot be registered, potentially enabling the Euro 2024 champion to leave Barcelona for free.

Facing mounting debt, Barcelona has limited options, such as further legal action, using board members' personal guarantees, or generating extraordinary income through the sale of VIP packages for the future Camp Nou expansion.

La Liga defended its decision, emphasizing that equal regulations were applied to all teams to ensure fair competition. The loss of Olmo would deal a significant blow to Barcelona, who have slipped to third place in the title race, trailing Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

With the transfer saga unfolding, the Catalan giants face tough decisions to navigate their financial and competitive challenges.