Barcelona fans have been eagerly awaiting the debut of Dani Olmo ever since his transfer from RB Leipzig earlier this summer. However, due to the club’s financial troubles, the bureaucratic process of registering him with LaLiga has been delayed. With the team exceeding their annual spending limit, Barcelona must make room on their wage bill to accommodate new signings like Olmo. Despite missing the first match of the season against Valencia, Olmo has been included in the squad for the upcoming fixture against Athletic Club at the Olympic Stadium.
To ensure Olmo’s availability for the match, Barcelona has been working on a series of outgoings. Players like Ilkay Gündogan, Clément Lenglet, Mikayil Faye, and Vitor Roque are all on the verge of leaving the club. Lenglet is set to sign a contract extension until 2027 before going on loan to Atlético Madrid for the season. Faye will join Rennes for an initial fee of €14m with potential clauses for Barcelona to re-sign him in the future. Roque, on the other hand, will be loaned to Real Betis after failing to secure a spot in the first team following his transfer in January. The club is making strategic moves to balance the books and make way for new additions like Olmo.
One positive note for Barcelona is the return of midfielder Fermín López to the squad. After a successful run with Spain at the European Championships and the Olympics this summer, López is back in contention for a spot in the team. However, the team will be missing the services of Andreas Christensen, who is sidelined with an Achilles problem for several weeks. Manager Hansi Flick expressed his concerns about Christensen’s fitness, emphasizing the need to prioritize the player’s recovery to avoid further issues down the line.
In addition to Christensen’s injury, Barcelona will also be without several key players due to long-term absences. Ronald Araújo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Ansu Fati are all sidelined, posing a challenge for the team as they navigate the early stages of the season. The absence of these players will require Flick to make strategic adjustments to the squad and rely on the depth of the team to cope with the challenges ahead.
Barcelona’s upcoming match against Athletic Club will be significant not only for the debut of Dani Olmo but also for the team’s ability to navigate financial constraints, player departures, and injury setbacks. The squad will need to come together and demonstrate resilience as they face adversity on multiple fronts. Fans will be watching closely to see how the team performs under these challenging circumstances and whether they can secure a positive result to kickstart their season.