Dani Olmo isn't going through his best moment since he arrived at Barça. The Spanish attacking midfielder couldn't play in the Joan Gamper Trophy due to a muscle overload. In his absence, Hansi Flick chose to place Fermín in the attacking midfield position, and the young academy player replied with a stellar performance, scoring two goals.
Olmo's absence from the match not only cost him valuable playing time, but it also allowed a direct competitor to shine. In a team with so much competition in the attacking area, every opportunity matters. The Gamper was a chance Dani couldn't take advantage of.
His physical problems, a major issue for his competition with Fermín
The battle for the attacking midfield spot promises to be one of the most intense of the season. Fermín arrives with a very high level of performance and a goal-scoring ability that makes it difficult to displace him from the starting eleven. Dani Olmo, meanwhile, is still dealing with physical problems that already held him back last season.
Although Flick trusts his talent and vision of the game, consistency will be key for Olmo to regain his best form. The physical demands of the season, combined with Barça's packed schedule, mean that the margin for errors or absences is small.
Bad news off the field
As if physical problems and internal competition weren't enough, Dani Olmo has received more news that hasn't sat well with him. One of his closest friends in the world of soccer, Benjamin Sesko, with whom he shared a locker room at Leipzig, won't play at Barça.
Olmo and Sesko have kept a great relationship since their years in Germany, and the attacking midfielder looked favorably on the possibility of playing together again. However, fate has taken a different turn and that reunion will have to wait, if it ever happens.
Sesko moves to Manchester United
The Slovenian striker has signed for Manchester United, thus closing the door to his arrival at Barça. The club had him on its list of possible signings as a center forward for next season, especially considering a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. However, the deal didn't go through and the player has chosen the Premier League as his next challenge.
For Barça, this is a missed opportunity in the market, since Sesko is one of the most promising young strikers in soccer. For Olmo, it's also confirmation that he won't be able to share a locker room with a friend he knows and with whom he dreamed of playing again. Now, his priority will be to leave his physical problems behind and show why the club made such a strong bet on him.