Dani Olmo has been a Barcelona player for a few weeks now and he has already made his debut for the club. The talented Spanish attacking midfielder signed for the club from RB Leipzig as a marquee transfer. We covered a story earlier today where the Spaniard revealed the role Deco & Flick played in him coming here.
Olmo’s debut was the stuff of dreams. Coming on in the 45th minute to replace Ferran Torres, the 26-year-old oozed class from his very first touch and looked at home in a team that he was playing with for the first time.
He rattled the crossbar with an effort from a distance before finally netting the match-winner after Lamine Yamal found him in space inside the box. If this was the trailer of things to come, Barcelona fans could not be more excited.
Speaking about his transfer to Barcelona as quoted by the SPORT, Olmo has singled out one teammate who has surprised him the most. Here is what the 26-year-old had to say:
“Raphinha surprised me, as I didn’t know him that well. I had seen him play, but I hadn’t played with him. The quality he has… he’s a player I think I’ll get along well with, and I believe he gives everything for the team. He’s a team player, and from the little I’ve seen… he’s attentive to the younger players. We have a very healthy group.”
Olmo’s words echo that of most Barcelona fans this season. Raphinha has wowed everyone with his performances in the first three games of this Hansi Flick era and looks like he will be one of the club’s most important players this season.
The Brazilian winger is finally looking like the player Marcelo Bielsa built at Leeds United. He looks so much at home in Hansi Flick’s system irrespective of whether he has played in midfield or on the left and has had three back-to-back impressive displays.
Against Rayo, Raphinha shifted to the left after Olmo came on and should have had an assist but Robert Lewandowski failed to bundle home the ball after an excellent cutback from the 27-year-old. The Brazilian however did tee up Pedri for the team’s first goal.
Raphinha has won over the Barcelona fanbase with his performances so far and will want to continue on a similar note. It’s not just Olmo who has been surprised for the Brazilian and let’s hope this can continue for a long time for the club’s sake.
