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This crisis encompasses sport, financial, and reputational dimensions.
On the pitch, Hansi Flick’s squad now face the prospect of losing their marquee summer signing – an asset who could soon walk free.
Financially, Barcelona will have to pay the full 48 million euros (£40m) to RB Leipzig for Olmo, with his long-term contract running until 2030.
They also have to pay him the full amount of his contract, a clause added to his contract, which leaves the club with a financial gap of 120 million euros (£100m).
And in reputation, the debacle damaged the image of the club, especially its president, Joan Laporta, who was voted in March 2021.
Laporta, who personally handled this issue, now finds himself exposed.
Since the departure of the chief executive Ferran Reverter in early 2022 and the resignation of the vice-president of the economy Eduard Romeu in 2024, two of the 20 directors who do not accept the way things are run at the club, Laporta refused to fill this important. roles, leaving him liable to fall.
The situation worsened after Barcelona faced two swift legal defeats in less than 72 hours before the La Liga deadline, as the Barcelona courts rejected the club’s requests for temporary measures to register Olmo and Víctor.
Closing these channels, Laporta turned to the Spanish Football Federation, asking for new licenses for both players, something that La Liga does not accept that does not allow a player to be registered at the same club twice a season.
The Federation, led by Rafael Louzan, has little incentive to challenge La Liga, especially after Tebas was recently appointed as Louzan’s vice president. This alignment left Barcelona without allies, making Laporta’s pleas futile.
The last glimmer of hope for Barcelona lies in a proposed agreement to sell VIP seats at the future Spotify Camp Nou for 100-120 million euros – an amount significantly lower than what could be obtained in club under less desperate circumstances.
Barcelona has admitted that the funds have been paid, even after the La Liga deadline, and is now trying to convince the league to accept the payment and allow the registration of the players.
However, La Liga maintained that Barcelona failed to submit the required documentation confirming the transaction before the deadline, meaning the club cannot re-register Olmo or Víctor.
Surprisingly, while Barcelona may be blocked from re-registering their players, they can still sign new ones. However, to facilitate any of this, the club would have to sell seats in a stadium that doesn’t exist yet.
