FC Barcelona faces a decisive summer both in sports and finances. With Hansi Flick and company consolidating their positions on the bench, the club is clear that it needs to restructure several areas of the field, although the lack of liquidity limits any operation. Therefore, the priority remains to free up the wage bill and complete an important sale in order to enter the market with some room to maneuver.
In this scenario, the midfield is one of the areas that draws the most attention. The squad is well stocked with talent, but there are also many players for the limited positions available in that area. While offers keep coming in for players like Fermín López or Dani Olmo, Barça must weigh every step carefully to avoid weakening itself or hindering the development of its young prospects.
Atlético moves ahead, Barça breathes
According to COPE, Atlético de Madrid is about to finalize the signing of Álex Baena for €60 million. The Villarreal attacking midfielder, who had also been linked to Barça in recent weeks, will ultimately head to the team managed by Diego Simeone. This decision is a silent relief for the Catalan side, which had ruled out his arrival due to the overcrowding in its midfield.
The operation leaves a positive outlook at Can Barça: both Fermín López and Dani Olmo now have a clearer path to establish themselves in the team. Besides the fact that Baena's signing would have meant direct competition for both in the squad, Simeone now has the player he wanted and will shift his attention away from the blaugrana talents. Therefore, both Fermín and Dani Olmo gain peace of mind and potential minutes in a summer that promises to be more hectic than it initially seemed for FC Barcelona.
Less pressure, more minutes
Fermín López has been one of the season's biggest breakthroughs, and Dani Olmo, one of the main targets to strengthen the team's creativity. Flick values both for their versatility and adaptability, but the arrival of a new attacking midfielder would have forced a rethink of roles and possibly a greater distribution of minutes. Now, the scenario has changed.
The German coach continues to bet on a dynamic midfield, and avoiding Baena's signing allows him to manage current resources better. Having Fermín and Dani Olmo is strategic in a midfield used to rotation and with very diverse profiles. The priority for Barça, beyond adding new names, is to maximize what is already in the squad.