Barcelona’s €12m-a-year man slammed after PSG defeat

Catalonia has experienced another Champions League game, which was a rollercoaster ride.

Barcelona started off strong against Paris Saint-Germain. Ferran Torres’ goal in the first half had the crowd excited, but then they crumbled just when it counted. PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos buried the dagger in the 90th minute, sealing a 2-1 comeback win that left Camp Nou stunned.

Fans only saw one person as the culprit, even though the entire team was unable to recover after the break. Dani Olmo.

Dani Olmo played poorly against PSG

Several of his own fans are calling the 27 year old midfielder who won Euros in Spain, and returned last year to Barcelona with a record-breaking deal, “public enemy no. 1”. And the receipts look ugly.

Olmo began in midfield and was tasked to link Ferran Rashford and Marcus Rashford at the top. He instead turned in 72 frustrating minutes: 10 mistakes, 75 percent pass accuracy, 1 tame goal, and an epic miss where he beat the keeper but hit the ball into Achraf’s legs. This moment, say fans, could have changed the game.

Social media can be cruel. “Sell Olmo right now.” “Enough,” wrote a fan on X. Another fan wrote: “I’m not able to defend him any longer.” “Invisible when we most need him.” Some people didn’t bother to nuance: “Leave Olmo’s club.”

Olmo cost Barcelona €55m and earns €240,000 a week

It is ironic that Olmo was welcomed back to Barcelona by a huge 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.

In his first season, injuries plagued him, but when he was healthy, he displayed flashes of brilliance: 12 goals, 7 assists, and 39 appearances. In contrast, this season the story is very different. Nine games, only one goal, two assist, and too many off-nights.

Barcelona fans are brutal, and Champions League is unforgiving. When you cost €55m and pocket superstar wages, mediocrity won’t cut it. Olmo is a drifter, appearing and disappearing from matches. When the stakes are highest, he doesn’t deliver.

Bayern Munich is interested in Dani Olmo

Football is not 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. Olmo’s perception is crucial, as he appears to be the weakest link in a team attempting to regain European dominance.

What is the real test? What he says. Dani Olmo has the talent and youth to change the narrative. But unless Dani Olmo does it soon, the boos are only going to get louder and Barcelona’s tolerance will be thinner.

Dani Olmo would be an obvious target for European clubs. According to Spanish media reports, Bayern Munich has already shown interest in him. They could move to sign him next summer as Barcelona is willing to consider offers.

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