January 07, (THEWILL) – Barcelona face continued registration challenges for Olmo and Victor ahead of their Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Bilbao, with manager Hansi Flick addressing the situation at Tuesday’s press conference in Saudi Arabia.
The Spanish giants, who invested approximately €55 million in acquiring Olmo from RB Leipzig during August’s transfer window, alongside Victor’s July signing, remain unable to register both players for the remainder of the season due to La Liga wage cap regulations. Their most recent appeal was rejected on Saturday, leaving the Administrative Sports Court (CSD) through the Spanish government their final avenue for resolution.
“I do not think it is going to happen tomorrow, but we are going to wait. The only thing we can do right now is wait,” Flick stated during the pre-match media briefing. He emphasised the significance of missing both players, particularly noting Olmo’s excellence, while maintaining that such circumstances could strengthen team unity.
The Barcelona manager maintains optimism regarding future recruitment despite these registration complications. “We know what the situation is and how immense this club is. When you know that, you sign no matter what,” he explained, demonstrating confidence in the club’s continued appeal to potential signings.
Athletic Bilbao enter the contest in formidable form, maintaining an unbeaten streak across 15 matches in all competitions. This presents a substantial challenge for Barcelona, who have recorded just one victory in their previous seven league encounters, resulting in their current third-place position in La Liga, merely two points ahead of their upcoming opponents.
The semi-final provides Barcelona with positive news regarding 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who returns to availability following an ankle injury absence. The winner of Wednesday’s match will progress to Sunday’s final, facing either Real Madrid or Mallorca, who contest Thursday’s other semi-final fixture.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
