Barcelona have temporarily won the battle to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor to play in the second half of the season following an appeal to Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD).
Barcelona were only able to comply with La Liga’s wage regulations during the first half of the campaign due to a convenient loophole resulting from Andreas Christensen’s injury absence.
But it was not a permanent solution and registration for Olmo and Victor expired on December 31 2024 Barcelona are reported to have raised €100m (£83m) by selling off VIP boxes at the redeveloped Camp Nou, which is still being worked on, allowing them to return to the 1:1 spending rules next season. But the paperwork was submitted too late for Olmo and Victor’s distress.
Players cannot be registered twice by the same club during one season. So when the pair became unregistered, the situation looked particularly bleak, especially after La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) he formally rejected Barcelona’s attempts to push her through.
One legal challenge in a local court has already failed, but Barcelona took the case to the national sports council and now they have been granted a temporary license to register Olmo and Victor until the appeal reaches a final verdict in due course.
The CSD statement explained: “This measure, which is temporary until the appeal filed by the club and the above players is finally resolved, is suspended [La Liga and RFEF’s decision]and confiscation of the sports licenses of the mentioned players.
“It also stays the validity of said permits until this appeal is finally resolved.”
It’s not a complete win for the club, but it’s still a win in the circumstances. The headlines in recent weeks have mostly focused on Olmo, signed for €60m last summer, and the fact that he would have the right to terminate his contract, be paid in full and move on as a free agent. Fortunately for Barcelona, his loyalty and patience with the club to fix things has held.
