In just over a fortnight’s time, Dani Olmo will have celebrated two years at Barcelona, after signing for €55m from RB Leipzig.
Though there wasn’t too much fanfare when it came to his signing, there was the acknowledgement that Barca were getting an elite-level player whose style should fit seamlessly into the squad dynamic.
Whilst the Spaniard has certainly had his moments in Blaugrana, they have been few and far between, and when one looks at the expectation vs the reality, it’s fair to suggest
that, in the main, Olmo has underperformed.
The mitigating factor, of course, is that he hasn’t always had a good run in the team, and no matter how good you are, not always playing a full 90 minutes or being brought on as a sub after an hour is going to disrupt your rhythm.
Some might see that as an excuse, but it’s an accepted fact. More minutes on the pitch generally make for a better output, ergo a better player.
A case in point can be seen from what’s just happened in the World Cup.
Spain were always going to be there or thereabouts, and not only did they not let anyone down, but they probably exceeded all expectations.
Since when have you ever heard of a World Cup-winning team landing the trophy after only receiving 10 shots on goal in the whole tournament?!
That’s a testament not just to a remarkable defence, but to the squad as a whole, and Olmo certainly played his part too. The Barcelona star seems to have put his injuries problems behind him in 2026 and played in every single game of Spain’s World Cup campaign.
Two assists, including the one for Pedro Porro which took the semi-final out of reach for France, may not sound too much of an output, but they weren’t the sum total of Olmo’s contribution.
For long periods, he looked perfectly comfortable in possession and thriving on the responsibility of helping to keep the ball, which is something he hasn’t always managed at Barca.
His positioning and movement were on point, and it allowed those around him to also go about their work with ease.
As the conduit through which a lot of Spanish attacks came, his importance to the team can’t be understated, and after a series of good individual performances, it’s certainly worth pondering on whether Barcelona are finally about to see the best version of Olmo to date.
If the 28-year-old brings his tournament form into his domestic commitments, what’s gone before will be quickly forgotten and it’ll be like signing a new player for Hansi Flick.
