Owing mainly to their financial problems, FC Barcelona have been unable to compete with other big clubs for the best players in the market. However, the pull of the Blaugrana club has still allowed them to incorporate some big names over the last few years.
But in the last summer transfer window, there was only one notable addition to this Barcelona squad, i.e., Dani Olmo, who arrived from RB Leipzig to provide another attacking option for Hansi Flick.
Despite being the sole addition, Olmo’s arrival has had a significant impact on the Catalan club. The Spanish international has seamlessly integrated into the squad, delivering consistently high-level performances right from the start.
These impressive performances have earned praise for both Barcelona and Dani Olmo, with many lauding the club for executing such a successful transfer. According to SPORT, the latest individual to commend this operation is former Argentine player and ex-Real Madrid coach Jorge Valdano, who highlighted the remarkable success of the move.
The former Real Madrid coach was previewing the match between Barcelona and Brest when he commented about the importance of Olmo’s signing and also labeled him as a truly ‘extraordinary’ player:
“The absence of Lamine has a ripple effect. For instance, it shifts Dani Olmo to the wing because he can play anywhere. However, when he plays as an attacking midfielder, he provides extraordinary fluidity to the game and the team.”
“I believe he’s the best signing Barça has made in decades. He’s truly extraordinary, but it’s crucial for him to influence the most important area of the pitch. Lamine’s absence relegates him to a secondary position, even if it’s just a starting point.”
Valdano did not hesitate to declare Dani Olmo one of the best signings Barcelona have made in the past few decades. While such high praise from the Argentine is significant, it might be an overstatement given some of Barcelona’s other remarkable acquisitions in the last one or two decades, including Neymar, Luis Suárez, and Pedri.
Nevertheless, there is no denying that Olmo has been an immediate success at Barcelona. Recently, he has even been described by his teammates as being on another level. If he maintains this trajectory, he could solidify his position as one of the club’s most impactful players in recent years.
