The new year has ushered in more turmoil for Barcelona, a club once synonymous with glory but now grappling with a series of recurring crises. This time, the chaos surrounds the registration of Dani Olmo, a talented midfielder whose arrival was supposed to symbolize a step forward but instead underscores the club’s lingering financial woes.
A Troubled Legacy
Barcelona’s financial troubles are no secret. Former president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s controversial tenure left the club teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, marked by reckless spending and poor decision-making. His resignation in October 2020 brought hope for change under Joan Laporta, but years later, the cracks remain.
Victor Font, a former presidential candidate, recently claimed that Barca’s financial state is now worse than during Bartomeu’s era. While that may be hyperbolic, the Dani Olmo fiasco has done little to inspire confidence in Laporta’s leadership.
A €103 Million Gamble Gone Awry
Dani Olmo is undeniably a skilled player, as proven by his performances at Euro 2024, where he bolstered Spain’s midfield. Yet, Barcelona’s decision to spend €103 million on him—covering transfer fees and wages—raised eyebrows across Spain.
Olmo’s signing didn’t address Barca’s most urgent on-field needs. More critically, it came at a time when the club was already exceeding La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules. Laporta and sporting director Deco assured fans they could balance the books through player sales before the summer transfer deadline. They didn’t.
The result? A desperate workaround. Olmo was temporarily registered only after defender Andreas Christensen sustained a long-term injury, creating just enough wiggle room in Barca’s salary cap. But this quick fix was never sustainable.
Humiliation on Display
As 2025 began, Christensen returned to fitness and was promptly reinstated as a registered player in La Liga. However, this left no space for Olmo, whose profile was embarrassingly removed from the league’s website on January 1.
The episode has highlighted Barcelona’s ongoing struggles to navigate their financial maze while competing at the highest level. It’s a stark reminder of the precarious balancing act the club faces between adhering to regulations and maintaining its reputation as one of football’s elite institutions.
What’s Next for Barcelona?
For Laporta, this latest episode is more than a logistical hiccup—it’s a credibility crisis. Fans are left wondering if the club’s leadership has learned from past mistakes or if Barcelona is doomed to repeat them.
On the pitch, Olmo’s availability—or lack thereof—could impact the team’s ambitions this season. Off the pitch, the saga serves as a glaring indicator that Barcelona’s financial house is far from being in order.
As the Blaugrana faithful watch events unfold, one thing is clear: Barcelona’s fight to reclaim its former glory will be as much about balance sheets as it is about trophies.
