The "blaugrana" giant has already reached an agreement with the Spanish playmaker, but in Catalonia, they assure that the second offer sent to the German club also did not convince them.

After seeing Leipzig reject their first bid for Dani Olmo, Barcelona found themselves in a challenging position, but the Catalan club was determined not to give up.
Dani Olmo, a player who had been on Barcelona's radar for some time, became even more desirable after his standout performances in Euro 2024, where he emerged as the tournament's top scorer. His technical abilities, versatility, and vision on the field made him a perfect fit for Barcelona's style of play, and the club was eager to bring him back to La Liga, where he had started his career in Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia.
Barcelona's first offer, which was promptly rejected by Leipzig, was seen as a conservative attempt to test the waters. The German club, known for its astute business dealings and ability to nurture young talents, was not willing to part ways with one of its key players without securing a deal that met their valuation. Leipzig's stance was firm: they valued Olmo highly, not only for his current contributions but also for his potential future value, given his young age and the fact that he was still under contract until 2027.
Undeterred by the initial rejection, Barcelona's management, led by president Joan Laporta, quickly regrouped and formulated a second, more substantial offer. By this point, they had already reached a personal agreement with Olmo, who was reportedly eager to return to Spain and play for a club where he could further develop his career at the highest level. The personal terms included a contract that would keep Olmo at Barcelona until 2030, signaling a long-term commitment from both player and club.
The revised offer, which included €55 million in fixed fees, was structured to appeal to Leipzig's financial expectations. Additionally, Barcelona included €4 million in bonuses that were tied to easily achievable performance milestones, and another €3 million in more challenging bonuses, likely related to team achievements such as winning the Champions League or domestic titles. Despite the improvements, the response from Leipzig was once again negative.
The main sticking point, according to sources including the newspaper Sport, was the payment structure proposed by Barcelona. Due to the club's ongoing financial difficulties exacerbated by years of overspending and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Barcelona could only commit to spreading the payments over a period longer than Leipzig was willing to accept. Leipzig, who had seen their own financial growth in recent years but were still cautious about long-term payment plans, preferred a deal that would see the majority of the payment made within a shorter timeframe, ideally within a few months. This difference in financial strategy was a significant obstacle, and it left the negotiations at an impasse.
Despite this setback, Barcelona's leadership remained optimistic about finding a resolution. Laporta and his team were aware that securing Olmo would be a significant coup, especially considering the other challenges the club was facing in the transfer market. For instance, their pursuit of Nico Williams, another young and talented Spanish forward from Athletic Bilbao, was becoming increasingly unlikely. Williams, who had also impressed in recent seasons, was highly valued by his club, and Athletic Bilbao was reluctant to sell one of their brightest prospects, especially to a domestic rival. The combination of a high asking price and Bilbao's resistance to negotiate left Barcelona with few alternatives but to intensify their efforts to sign Olmo.
As days passed, the pressure on Barcelona to close the deal grew. The club's fans, eager for new signings that could strengthen the squad for the upcoming season, were keeping a close watch on the developments. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo, aware of the ongoing negotiations, was said to be hopeful that an agreement could be reached. His potential return to Spain was not just a professional move but also a personal one, as he would be returning to the country where his football journey began.
Internally, Barcelona's management team was exploring various options to bridge the gap with Leipzig. One possibility was to secure additional financing or to restructure existing financial obligations to free up the necessary funds for the transfer. There was also talk of potentially including player exchanges or other creative solutions that could satisfy Leipzig's demands while keeping Barcelona within its financial limits.
In the meantime, Leipzig was in no rush to sell Olmo, confident in their position. They knew that keeping Olmo for another season would only increase his value, especially if he continued to perform at a high level. Leipzig was also aware that other clubs might enter the fray, driving up the price and giving them more leverage in negotiations.
As the summer transfer window progressed, the situation remained fluid. Barcelona's hopes rested on their ability to find a financial solution that would satisfy Leipzig's requirements while keeping the club within its financial constraints. The coming days were expected to be crucial, with both clubs needing to make key decisions about the future of one of Europe's most promising young talents.
The saga of Dani Olmo's potential move to Barcelona was emblematic of the broader challenges facing top European clubs in a post-pandemic world, where financial prudence had become as important as sporting ambition. For Barcelona, securing Olmo was not just about adding a talented player to their ranks it was also about making a statement that, despite recent difficulties, the club remained a top destination for world-class talent.