By Ion Axinescu
Copyright euroweeklynews
Another Champions League night, another rollercoaster in Catalonia.
Barcelona came out flying against Paris Saint-Germain, bossed the first half and Ferran Torres scored once, had the crowd believing, and then crumbled when it mattered most. PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos buried the dagger in the 90th minute, sealing a 2-1 comeback win that left Camp Nou stunned.
But while the whole team collapsed after the break, fans only had eyes for one culprit: Dani Olmo.
Dani Olmo had a poor game against PSG
The 27-year-old midfielder, who once lit up the Euros with Spain and returned to Barcelona last year on a blockbuster deal, is now being called “public enemy number one” by sections of his own supporters. And the receipts are ugly.
Olmo started in attacking midfield, tasked with linking Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford up top. Instead, he turned in 72 minutes of frustration: 10 giveaways, a 75 per cent pass accuracy, one tame shot on target, and a brutal miss when he had the keeper beaten but slammed the ball straight into Achraf Hakimi’s legs. That moment, fans say, could’ve changed everything.
Social media was merciless. “Sell Olmo now. Enough,” wrote one fan on X. Another: “I can’t defend him anymore. Invisible when we need him most.” Some didn’t bother with nuance: “Leave my club, Olmo.”
Olmo cost Barcelona €55m and earns €240,000 a week
The irony is that Olmo arrived back at Barcelona to massive fanfare. After shining at RB Leipzig, the Catalan-born midfielder signed a six-year contract worth around €240,000 a week (€12.5m annually), hailed as the missing link in Barça’s midfield evolution.
His first year was riddled with injuries, but when fit, he showed flashes: 12 goals and 7 assists across 39 appearances. This season, though, the story has been different: nine games, just one goal, two assists, and way too many off nights.
Barcelona fans are ruthless, and the Champions League is unforgiving. When you cost €55m and pocket superstar wages, mediocrity won’t cut it. The numbers don’t lie: Olmo drifts in and out of matches, and when the stage is biggest, he’s not delivering.
Bayern Munich, interested in Dani Olmo
Of course, football is never black and white. Some defenders point to his work rate and the fact Barça’s midfield as a whole was outplayed by PSG’s intensity. But perception matters and right now, Olmo looks like the weak link in a team trying to claw back European dominance.
The real test? How he responds. Dani Olmo is still young enough, talented enough, to flip the narrative. But unless he does it soon, the boos will only get louder, and Barcelona’s patience thinner.
Of course, Dani Olmo could be a top target for other European clubs. In fact, according to Spanish media, Bayern Munich already show interest in him and could make a move next summer, as Barcelona would be ready to listen to offers.
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