It is now an open secret that Dani Olmo is headed to Barcelona from RB Leipzig. The deal is expected to be worth €55m guaranteed package plus €7m in add-ons. Olmo has agreed to a six-year deal valid until June of 2030.
Olmo was one of the stars of the recently concluded Euro 2024, with no one contributing to more goals than him in the tournament. Another thing to note here is that Olmo has a Barça past and this wasn’t the first time he has been linked with a move back.
The Spaniard spent 7 years at La Masia between 2007 and 2014 before moving to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia as he didn’t see a clear pathway to the Blaugrana first team. But he’s back now, with reports suggesting he has completed his medical at the time of writing.
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Dani Olmo’s Strengths and Play Style
Dani Olmo’s strengths lie in his play in the pockets and interpretation of space. His best position is as a number #10, operating behind the striker. That’s where he played in the Euros, behind Álvaro Morata. The Spaniard prefers playing with a striker who can stretch the last line, be it Morata, Loïs Openda, Benjamin Šeško or Timo Werner.
That gives him space between the lines and a chance to thread through balls. His creative intelligence and technique in the right spaces aid this style of play.
Olmo is also an outstanding goalscorer from attacking midfield. He reads space quite well and is therefore capable of getting into the right places to score. The 26-year-old also has a high shot volume which is assisted by the fact that he is quick to release the shots.
How he fits at Barça?
Hansi Flick, the new Barça manager employs a 4-2-3-1 system. Olmo’s preferred position will be as the number #10, behind the striker in this formation. It is a position that has been played by Thomas Müller under Flick for Bayern with success. Olmo’s best fit is also likely to be in that position.
However, that being said Barça also have Pedri and Fermín López who could play there. Another position that Olmo is likely to see minutes in is the left wing. Barcelona’s options there haven’t been particularly convincing. Their pursuit of Nico Williams has been unsuccessful so far. So we can perhaps see him start on the left and invert into the midfield.
Dani Olmo Transfer Pros and Cons
A positive is that Olmo is obviously a very gifted footballer and will definitely add a lot of quality to Barcelona. He’s a homegrown boy and playing for the Blaugrana would have been his dream growing up. The midfielder looks like a great fit for the system as well.
Negatively, there are a few issues. Barcelona are in dire times economically. So spending that much money in a position where they already have a lot of talent doesn’t seem like a sensible move.
Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona’s striker is someone who keeps dropping into space, instead of making runs, something Olmo wouldn’t be a big fan of. Lastly, Olmo’s injury record makes for horrible reading, which means that the player has seldom achieved what he should be achieving.
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