Barcelona Scrambles to Clear Cap Space for Dani Olmo Before Deadline
Barcelona is racing against time, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With the clock ticking down to Dec. 31, the Catalan giants are in a desperate bid to make room within their LaLiga-imposed €426 million ($447.5 million) salary cap to secure the registration of Dani Olmo. If they fail, the Spanish international could be sidelined for the second half of the season—or worse, walk away for free. Yes, you read that right: free.
Olmo, who joined Barcelona this past summer from RB Leipzig, has already had a rocky start to his tenure at the club. Due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial struggles, his registration with LaLiga wasn’t processed in time for the first two matches of the season. Eventually, he was registered on a temporary basis, thanks to a loophole that allowed the club to cover for the long-term injury of Andreas Christensen. But that temporary registration is set to expire at the end of the calendar year, leaving Barcelona scrambling to find a solution.
The Clock Is Ticking
Here’s the deal: if Barcelona doesn’t free up enough space under their salary cap by January, Olmo won’t be eligible to play for the club in 2024. And he’s not the only one in limbo. Striker Pau Víctor, who joined from Girona over the summer, is in the same precarious situation. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Olmo’s contract includes a clause that would allow him to leave for free if he isn’t registered in time. While one source confirmed the report to ESPN, another source at the club declined to comment on what they called “confidential” contract details.
This isn’t the first time Barcelona has found itself in such a bind. Similar clauses have reportedly been included in other players’ contracts in recent years, including those of Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessié, who joined the club in 2022. It’s a risky move, but one that Barcelona seems to have embraced as they navigate their ongoing financial challenges.
How Did It Come to This?
Barcelona’s financial woes are no secret. The club remains over its salary cap but is allowed to spend a percentage of any savings or revenue it generates on registering players. This means that every euro counts, and the club is exploring multiple avenues to raise funds before the deadline.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what Barcelona is working on:
- New Nike Deal: The club recently announced a new agreement with kit supplier Nike, which is expected to provide a significant revenue boost. However, the deal still needs to be approved by the club’s members, with a vote scheduled for Dec. 21.
- VIP Box Rights: Reports suggest that Barcelona is negotiating a deal to sell the rights to the VIP boxes at the Spotify Camp Nou, which is currently undergoing renovations, for the next 20 years.
- Other Investments: Sources indicate that the club is pursuing additional sources of investment. As a last resort, one of the club’s board members could provide a personal guarantee to ensure Olmo and Víctor’s registrations.
Despite the challenges, sources within the club remain optimistic that they’ll be able to resolve the situation in time. But optimism alone won’t be enough to keep Olmo and Víctor on the pitch come January.
What’s at Stake?
For Barcelona, this isn’t just about keeping two players on the roster—it’s about maintaining momentum in a season where every point matters. Olmo has already shown flashes of brilliance since his delayed debut, and losing him midseason would be a massive blow to the team’s aspirations. Víctor, while less established, also represents a key piece of the club’s future.
And let’s not forget the potential fallout if Olmo walks away for free. Barcelona invested heavily to bring him back to Spain, and losing him without any financial compensation would be a bitter pill to swallow for a club that’s already struggling to balance its books.
The Final Countdown
As the Dec. 31 deadline looms, all eyes will be on Barcelona to see if they can pull off yet another financial juggling act. Will the new Nike deal and other revenue streams be enough to secure Olmo and Víctor’s futures at the club? Or will the Catalan giants be forced to watch one of their prized signings walk away for nothing?
One thing is certain: the next few weeks will be critical for Barcelona, both on and off the pitch. Stay tuned, because this story is far from over.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden
