Since Pep Guardiola took the reins of Manchester City, his gaze toward FC Barcelona has never completely shifted. The coach, who marked an era on the Barça bench, keeps a close eye on the evolution of talents formed at La Masia and those who keep Barça's style. It is not the first time City has shown interest in several players from the Catalan club, like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, or Cubarsí.
With a new cycle about to begin at Etihad Stadium, the English team is preparing to restructure certain key pieces. The confirmed departure of Kevin De Bruyne at the end of the season forces the club to find a replacement of equal caliber, and Guardiola has been clear with the 'citizen' board. He wants a quality attacking midfielder, with vision and experience at the elite level, and that profile has a name and surname according to his reports.
The chosen one to succeed De Bruyne
Dani Olmo has become Pep Guardiola's priority to fill the gap that the Manchester City captain will leave. The former RB Leipzig player fits perfectly into the Catalan coach's play style: mobility, tactical intelligence, and the ability to associate in tight spaces. Although Barça has no intention of parting with him, at Etihad they are willing to negotiate if they receive the green light from Barcelona.
From Manchester, they have already communicated with Joan Laporta and Deco to express their formal interest in the attacking midfielder. Dani Olmo has been an important piece whenever Flick has been able to count on him, and his departure would not be easy. Barça, aware of his value and the market context, would demand at least 70 million euros to let him go.
A complex operation
Besides the economic aspect, City will have to deal with another key factor: the player's will. Dani Olmo has not shown signs of wanting to leave the blaugrana project, and at 27 years old, he feels he still has much to contribute at Camp Nou. His identification with the club and the challenge of establishing himself as a reference for the new Barça keep him focused on the present.
However, Guardiola doesn't usually give up easily when he detects a profile that fits his system. Dani Olmo's future could depend not only on a good offer but also on a personal conversation with the player to convince him to take on a new challenge in England.