Manchester City decided not to sign Dani Olmo over the summer, allowing him to fulfill his dream of joining Barcelona. With the transfer now in disarray, could City seize the opportunity to provide Olmo an escape in January? On New Year’s Eve, La Liga shocked Barcelona by announcing that the conditions to continue Olmo’s registration had not been fulfilled, and that they also could not register any new players due to the financial limitations affecting the Nou Camp club. La Liga has removed Olmo’s name and profile from their website, confirming that he is deregistered, leaving his future uncertain. Olmo responded to the news by sharing a broken heart emoji on his social media. He obviously wants to stay in Barcelona following his £51m transfer from RB Leipzig, but he might not have a say in the situation. AS reports that his summer contract included a clause stating he would become a free agent if Barcelona didn’t renew his registration at this time. Barcelona is still working to retain a player they invested heavily in, who was also a standout during Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. If clubs cannot settle their ongoing financial problems, they will be poised to take advantage. City’s need for new players will likely connect them with someone of Olmo’s caliber, especially if he becomes available for free, which is £51m less than his summer price. Pep Guardiola has openly expressed his admiration for Olmo since their Champions League encounter with Dinamo Zagreb in 2019, where Olmo scored in City’s 4-1 victory. “He’s an excellent player with a promising future,” Guardiola remarked after the match, igniting a wave of transfer speculation that is unlikely to cease soon. “His performance today proves that.” The issue isn’t about the transfer or the money he merits. The main point is that he is a fantastic player, and I’m confident he can compete in the top leagues in Europe.
