Laporta defends handling of Dani Olmo’s registration issue

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended his administration’s handling of Dani Olmo’s registration issue while accusing critics of attempting to destabilise the club in a news conference on Tuesday.

Olmo and striker Pau Victor were barred from playing two matches after La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rejected their registration, citing Barcelona’s failure to meet the 2024 deadline for new licenses.

To address La Liga’s financial fair play requirements, the financially troubled Catalan club sold VIP box seats at the under-construction Spotify Camp Nou to Middle Eastern investors. However, La Liga demanded additional documentation, delaying the registration process.

“Nothing that happened in recent weeks surprised us,” Laporta stated. “This was an orchestrated attempt to destabilize Barcelona, but we persevered.”

Despite the setback, Olmo made his debut as a substitute in Barcelona’s commanding 5-2 Spanish Super Cup victory over Real Madrid on Sunday, marking coach Hansi Flick’s first trophy at the helm.

Laporta also disclosed that the registration delay was partly due to the club renegotiating a lucrative €1.7 billion sponsorship deal with Nike, finalized only after rejecting a less favourable offer.

While opposition groups and fans reportedly considered calling for Laporta’s resignation, he dismissed such notions, emphasizing that his focus remains on safeguarding the club’s interests.

“This was a clear attack to destabilize us before the Super Cup,” he said. “But we emerged stronger, and the team’s mental fortitude is commendable.”