Barcelona’s efforts to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the second half of the La Liga season have hit a dead end.
Barcelona lose appeal to retain Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for La Liga campaign
Spanish football authorities have officially rejected the club’s latest attempt, citing regulations that prohibit a cancelled player license from being reactivated within the same season.
The decision is a significant blow for the Catalan giants, who are currently third in La Liga, five points adrift of arch-rivals and league leaders Real Madrid.
Olmo, 26, has been instrumental in Barcelona’s campaign so far, his creative playmaking often setting the tempo for the team.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Pau Victor, although primarily used as a substitute, has provided valuable depth to the squad.
Barcelona signed Olmo in August for a reported fee of €55 million, while Victor joined a month earlier.
However, due to La Liga’s strict wage cap rules, the club registered them only for the first half of the season.
Despite their best efforts to navigate the financial constraints, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and La Liga have firmly upheld the rules.
In a joint statement, the RFEF and LaLiga clarified that the Monitoring Committee had denied Barcelona’s request for both players. The ruling was consistent with earlier decisions from two separate courts, which also dismissed the club’s appeals.
La Liga defended its position, emphasizing that while additional spending is permissible to address long-term injuries, the rules cannot be manipulated to accommodate players whose salaries breach the league’s financial limits.
The ruling leaves Barcelona in a precarious position. Without Olmo and Victor, the squad’s depth and flexibility are significantly compromised.
Speculation has emerged that the club may escalate the matter to the Spanish government in a last-ditch effort, though no official comment has been made by the Blaugrana.
This development underscores the ongoing financial struggles at Barcelona, a club that has been grappling with stringent wage caps and mounting debts.
For now, their quest to reclaim La Liga glory faces yet another hurdle as they forge ahead with a diminished roster.
