Barcelona have engineered a temporary reprieve that will allow them to select star summer signing Dani Olmo during the second half of the 2024/25 season.
After signing Olmo for €55 million ($56.8m / £45.9m) from RB Leipzig alongside the acquisition of Pau Victor from Girona, Barca were only able to register the pair through the end of December 2024 due to violations of the league’s wage bill regulations. Article 77 of La Liga’s rules allows clubs to temporarily use 80% of an injured player’s salary on alternatives during their absences.
Long-term issues for Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen allowed Barcelona to grease the wheels when it came to Olmo and Victor, but their attempts to re-register both players were rejected by the Spanish FA (RFEF) and LaLiga, which cancelled their temporary sporting licenses after the December 31 deadline passed.
Olmo, who starred last summer at Euro 2024, was instantly the subject of transfer speculation amid reports he had a clause in his contract allowing him to become an immediate free agent if Barcelona failed to register him.
So how have the Blaugrana managed to turn the situation back in their favour?
Why can Dani Olmo play for Barcelona again?
Barca took their case to the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), the highest sports council within Spain’s national government, presenting a 52-page summary plus more than 60 additional documents to advance their case, as per The Athletic.
Convinced at least of the case’s judicial viability, the CSD has suspended the RFEF and La Liga decision to cancel Olmo and Victor’s licenses until Barca’s appeal is fully heard. It could take up to three months for the case to play out, meaning both players will be able to feature in forthcoming La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League matches up until that point.
Explaining its decision, the CSD cited Article 27 of Spain’s Law on Sport, which entitles professional athletes to “a sporting career in accordance with their potential”, adding that not allowing Olmo and VIctor to play would “cause serious economic and sporting damage to the club and, above all, to the players. Potential harm to La Liga and the Spanish national team were also mentioned.
What did Hansi Flick say about Olmo and Victor case?
Olmo and Victor were not named in the Barcelona squad for Wednesday’s Supercopa de Espana semifinal against Athletic Club.
However, if Barca progress, they could feature in the final against Real Madrid or Real Mallorca.
Speaking ahead of the Athletic game, head coach Hansi Flick said, “I’m really happy with it. The whole team, the players, of course, Dani and Paui, they’re more than happy. Everyone at the club. It’s the right decision.”
