As the uncertainty surrounding the registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor lingers, FC Barcelona finds itself grappling with a dire situation. The dawn of 2025 brought unwelcome news as LaLiga officially removed the two forwards from Barcelona’s registered squad. This decision adds yet another layer of pressure on the Catalan club, which is scrambling to resolve the matter by January 3.

LaLiga’s Firm Stance

LaLiga’s decision came after a frenetic December 31. Despite Barcelona’s efforts to submit additional documentation regarding contracts and payment guarantees for the sale of VIP seats at the Spotify Camp Nou, the league deemed the submissions insufficient. According to sources, LaLiga could not verify that all funds from investors in Qatar and Dubai had been received. As a result, Barcelona’s request for new licenses for Olmo and Víctor was denied, leaving the players unregistered as of January 1.

Adding to the complications, LaLiga highlighted that “FC Barcelona has not presented any alternative that complies with financial fair play regulations, allowing for the registration of any player after January 2.” Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen, who had been unregistered due to a long-term injury, was reinstated.

RFEF’s Position

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) stated that it cannot process any registration without LaLiga’s approval, leaving Barcelona in a precarious position. While the club has indicated that all funds from the VIP seat sales should be accounted for by January 3, the RFEF’s regulatory framework adds another hurdle. Article 130.2 of its General Regulations stipulates that a player can only be re-registered under “exceptional circumstances” or force majeure, a provision that may be difficult for Barcelona to leverage.

Financial and Sporting Implications

The stakes are extraordinarily high. Should Barcelona fail to secure the registrations, Olmo could activate a clause in his contract that allows him to leave for free, while still being entitled to claim his salary through 2030. This would not only represent a sporting loss but also a financial disaster. The club would face a double burden: compensating Olmo’s wages and continuing to pay the $49.6 million transfer fee owed to Leipzig.

For Pau Víctor, who is contracted until 2029, the situation is slightly less dire as he does not have a similar exit clause. However, the inability to register him would still result in reputational damage and missed opportunities for the young forward.

Behind-the-Scenes Efforts

Barcelona’s top brass, including President Joan Laporta, Vice President Rafa Yuste, and financial executives, worked tirelessly on December 31 to find a solution. In Madrid, club representatives engaged with LaLiga officials to address concerns, but the pressure from rival clubs like Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla further complicated the situation. These clubs reportedly lobbied for stricter scrutiny of Barcelona’s financial maneuvers.

Despite the setbacks, optimism remains within the club. The belief is that the missing funds from the VIP seat sales will arrive imminently, enabling the registrations to proceed. However, even this scenario requires approval from both LaLiga and the RFEF, making it far from a guarantee.

The Road Ahead

Failure to resolve the issue could have catastrophic consequences for Barcelona. Beyond the potential player losses, the club’s financial stability could be jeopardized, with an additional $41.3 million negative impact on its 2024-25 accounts. This scenario would exacerbate existing challenges and further strain relationships with league and federation authorities.

As the clock ticks toward January 3, Barcelona faces one of its most critical tests in recent years. Whether through legal avenues, financial guarantees, or regulatory exceptions, the club must act decisively to salvage the registrations of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor—and with them, its ambitions for the remainder of the season.