It’s been a few days since Barcelona’s impressive 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and the biggest talking point from the game after Marc Bernal’s unfortunate ACL injury was the incredible debut of Dani Olmo.
The 26-year-old Spaniard came on in the second half for Ferran Torres and completely changed the game on its head. He scored the matchwinner for Barcelona but even otherwise, his general play was outstanding.
If this is a sign of things to come, Barcelona fans will certainly be excited. Olmo had an excellent sync with the rest of his teammates and one would have thought that the 26-year-old has been playing at the club for years.
Barcelona signed Olmo from RB Leipzig for around €60m. The ex-La Masia graduate returned to his boyhood club in what was a marquee transfer. Even after coming on board, registration issues prevent the midfield star from making his debut in the first two La Liga games.
Olmo had a conversation with Ferran Martinez of Mundo Deportivo where he explained the role that Deco and Hansi Flick played in bringing him to Barcelona. Here is what the 26-year-old had to say:
“Yes, it’s clear. Without a doubt, the confidence he (Deco) gave me from the first day we spoke. Also, the idea that Flick had in his head and how I fit into that idea convinced me. In that sense, I also changed my mindset there. It’s true that in other summers, in other transfer periods, there was talk, but it had never been as clear as this one.”
Flick’s system is built for a player like Dani Olmo to thrive. It has the need for a natural playmaking #10 which is becoming a dying art in football in recent years. The 26-year-old thrives in such a role.
Everyone saw what impact Dani Olmo could have on this team in that brief 45-minute cameo against Rayo Vallecano. It came on one of the smallest playing fields in La Liga and the Spaniard still managed to find spaces.
Olmo is in line for his full debut when Barcelona take on Real Valladolid tomorrow. Fans will be hoping to see more of the same from him. He has set the bar very high with his debut and let’s see if he can live up to that in the coming games.
