Barcelona president breaks silence on Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor registration battle | OneFootball

FC Barcelona entered 2025 in highly stressful circumstances, as right from the first day of the new year they had to deal with the unprecedented situation of the deregistration of two of their players, Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

The Spanish duo was registered only till December 31st and after missing this deadline, the Blaugranes had to go through a court battle to get a ruling in their favor that allowed for a precautionary registration of the two players.

This was undoubtedly a great success for the Catalans, and the delight of Barcelona fans was compounded by two other successes in these last two weeks, i.e., the return to 1:1 status and the victorious Spanish Super Cup campaign, which came with a 5-2 win over Real Madrid.

Following these auspicious events, President Laporta addressed a press conference today, in which he explained why he took the path he did with Olmo and Victor’s registration and also highlighted the importance of these achievements.

The main highlights from his presser are as follows:

1. Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor’s Case Explained

“We submitted documentation to La Liga on December 27, meeting the deadline before the year ended. On December 29, 30, and 31, they requested additional documentation. We believed everything was in order by January 1, but La Liga asked for alternative documentation that was not required by the regulations.

We also submitted the paperwork to the RFEF, who informed us that it was incomplete as of January 1. However, both La Liga and the RFEF acknowledged that the rule in question was outdated. On January 3, we completed the additional documentation requested by La Liga to validate financial fair play.

FC Barcelona has always complied with regulations. We are in a state governed by law, and the CSD, when granting an urgent precautionary measure, evaluated that there was irreparable damage at stake. Both the CSD and the state legal counsel recognized the validity of this measure.

This process could have been expedited. Initially, we planned to register the players using the contract with Nike. After Christensen’s injury, we used that opportunity to register Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor, as we were advised.

The Nike contract includes a signing bonus that strengthens our finances like never before. We had planned to use it for registration, but we delayed to negotiate further and managed to secure approximately €300 million more.

We continued to work diligently and secured approval for the Nike contract through the assembly. Later, we were informed it wasn’t considered a new contract, and only a portion was counted. We challenged this in court but were unsuccessful.

To address this, we activated the sale of VIP seat exploitation rights. Out of 9,600 new seats in the stadium, we ceded rights to 425 seats, making it an attractive product.

Two investors came forward—one for 75 seats and the other for 350 VIP seats—providing the amount we needed to register the two players. This was validated by La Liga, allowing us to achieve the 1:1 registration ratio.”

2. Defending the Club’s Reputation Amid Smear Campaigns

“We have renewed our energy to continue combating efforts to destabilize the club during this crucial moment in our history. With a new and youthful team already delivering joy to Barcelona fans, much work is required from internal and external disruptors to bring us down. They will have to try even harder if their goal is to destabilize a club with over 125 years of history.

Most people understood that this was an attack on our crest. And the crest cannot be tarnished. No smear campaign against the club will prevent us from being a reference in the world of sports and admired by thousands worldwide.

I am used to receiving criticism and facing actions that exceed ethical boundaries. However, I cannot tolerate such scrutiny being accompanied by lies. I will not allow criticism of the president to be used as a means to discredit the club, and I will not let that go unnoticed.”

3. Strategic Leadership

“Four years ago, we were entrusted with leading the club. Since then, we have focused on four key pillars: increasing revenue, reducing the wage bill while maintaining competitiveness, safeguarding the ownership model, and ensuring the recovery doesn’t financially burden members.

This has been achieved not by improvisation, luck, or impulsiveness but through a detailed strategic plan evaluated weekly.

Thanks to the talent, knowledge, intelligence, audacity, and courage of our executives, we’ve never given up. We succeeded because we love Barça.”

4. Standing Strong Against Challenges

“Much of our success in adhering to the four pillars—boosting revenue, reducing the wage bill without losing competitiveness, preserving the ownership model, and avoiding financial burdens on members—has been achieved thanks to the understanding and support of our members.

The events of recent weeks regarding the registrations of Olmo and Pau have not surprised us. Looking back at Barça’s history, this was predictable. Whenever FC Barcelona re-emerges as a leader in world football, various actors, with media support, unite to create a narrative detached from reality. This modus operandi is cyclical and familiar to us.

Once again, they have not succeeded. The board and executives stood firm, and we achieved our goal: registering Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor.”

5. Spotify Camp Nou: A New Era of Revenue Generation

“We are building a new stadium—not just a renovation—and will return as soon as possible. The new Spotify Camp Nou will generate substantial revenue for years to come.

Meanwhile, we are enjoying a committed team, with homegrown players, an exceptional coach like Flick, and a physically strengthened squad thanks to Julio Tous and his team. This is all thanks to Deco and his staff, who make nights like the one in Jeddah possible.”

6. Closing Remarks

“We are grateful to those who have believed in us. I encourage you to keep believing because great moments and many successes are on the way.”

Conclusion

Concluding his address, Laporta reaffirmed his dedication to protecting the club’s legacy and ensuring its continued success. He assured Barcelona fans that the club’s management remains unwavering in its mission to lead the club back to the pinnacle of world football.

The press conference shed light on the complexities of the ‘Olmo case,’ while also reinforcing the club’s resilience and strategic planning. As Laporta emphasized, the journey of FC Barcelona is far from over, and the best is yet to come.