LaLiga chief Javier Tebas says he’s hopeful of cancelling Dani Olmo’s Barcelona registration – and opens up on possibility of El Clasico being played outside of Spain
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has reiterated that he remains against the registration of Dani Olmo and that he is still working to overturn Barcelona’s appeal.
Spain international Olmo joined Barcelona for £50million from RB Leipzig in August but the Catalan giants faced a battle to re-register the player for the remainder of the season.
Olmo was initially only registered until the end of December because of the competition’s wage-cap restrictions – with the added jeopardy that the 26-year-old would be able to leave for free if unregistered.
Barcelona appealed against La Liga’s registration restrictions and, earlier this month, the Higher Sports Council ruled that they could temporarily register both Olmo, a target for several Premier League sides, and Pau Victor.
Now, the ruling body has up to three months to study the case before making a final opinion. Olmo and Victor can play as normal in the meantime.
And LaLiga chief Tebas insists that his organisation will continue to fight against the ruling.
Dani Olmo is free to play for the time being following a Higher Sports Council decision
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas insists that his organisation will continue to fight against the ruling
Olmo’s re-registration was denied due to LaLiga’s ongoing financial constraints on Barcelona
‘We are against his registration. We are putting resources towards this,’ he told Marca.
‘If we believe that he should not be registered, we obviously believe that we have a chance that he will not be registered.’
Although Barcelona will not welcome Tebas’ hard-line stance on their registration issues, the 62-year-old did give the Catalan club some encouragement over their ambitions of playing the second El Clasico of the season outside of Spain.
Hansi Flick’s side are looking at the possibility due to complications over their return to the Camp Nou.
Barcelons had hoped to unveil the newly-renovated £1.25billion stadium as part of the club’s 125th anniversary on November 29.
That was delayed and Barcelona continue to play their home matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys amid uncertainty over when Camp Nou will reopen.
Tebas revealed that Barcelona have not approached him about playing Real Madrid abroad but he has been angling for a LaLiga game to be played in the USA in recent years and seems open to the idea.
Barcelona’s Camp Nou was due to be reopened in November but that has been pushed back
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona won October’s El Clasico 4-0 in M
‘They have not communicated anything to us and I know the same as you, what I have been able to read and nothing more’ he said.
‘There is even talk about going outside Spain and such things. We do not know anything. In fact, if there is a problem that has happened other times of force majeure in other stadiums due to construction, teams have always played outside their stadium.’
Tebas added that Real Madrid would also have to green light the move.
‘I would have to have authorization from the other club, which is Real Madrid, and it would be looked at.’
