Barcelona’s financial struggles have reached new lows with their failure to register Dani Olmo, amplifying fan criticism of Joan Laporta’s management while entertaining neutrals across the globe.
The grandeur of FC Barcelona, once the envy of world football, continues to unravel in a saga of financial mismanagement and administrative blunders that football fans around the world are watching with a mix of schadenfreude and disbelief.
The latest debacle involves Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo, whose registration has been rejected by La Liga due to the club’s failure to comply with wage cap regulations.
Signed from RB Leipzig in the summer for €55 million, Olmo was heralded as a key piece in Barcelona’s efforts to rebuild after a turbulent few seasons.
However, due to La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules, Barcelona was unable to meet the financial requirements to register him for the second half of the season. Laporta had banked on selling VIP boxes at Camp Nou to a Qatari investor—a deal that has yet to materialise.
Without the funds, Barcelona missed the January 2 registration deadline, leaving Olmo’s future in limbo.
The repercussions of this debacle are significant.
With his registration voided, Olmo becomes a free agent as of January 1, potentially walking away without Barcelona recouping any of the €55 million transfer fee.
Furthermore, Barcelona faces the possibility of Olmo pursuing legal action to claim the €35 million in wages promised in his contract, which runs until 2030.
Olmo, a versatile attacking midfielder who has also been linked with Bayern Munich and Arsenal, is now in high demand. Both clubs have reportedly expressed interest, with Arsenal particularly eager to capitalise on Barcelona’s misfortune. A long list of others want him, too.
For Barcelona, this is the latest in a string of crises with the failed registration of a marquee signing like Olmo epitomising the administrative failures that have plagued the club in recent years.
Burdened with over €1 billion in debt, Barcelona has repeatedly struggled to comply with La Liga’s wage caps. High-profile departures, such as Lionel Messi in 2021, were seen as necessary sacrifices to stabilise finances.
Yet, the Olmo fiasco has reignited questions about President Joan Laporta‘s leadership as the same problems remain.
Critics argue that the club’s persistent financial instability and the mishandling of player registrations reflect a broader pattern of mismanagement. They say that the club’s reliance on “economic levers,” such as selling future revenue streams to address immediate needs, has created a short-term fix that only deepens the long-term problem.
Some fan groups are even contemplating a vote of no confidence in Laporta, highlighting the growing discontent within the Barcelona community that is entertaining neutrals everywhere.
Despite its storied history, Barcelona finds itself at a crossroads. Once celebrated for its motto, “Més que un club” (“More than a club”), the institution now serves as a cautionary tale of how even the most iconic brands can fall victim to greed, carelessness and mismanagement.