SPANISH WILL BE KEY IN FLICK'S SCHEME
Why is Dani Olmo the perfect player for FC Barcelona?
Dani Olmo is the brand new signing of FC Barcelona. The star of the Spanish national team that won Euro 2024, arrived in Barcelona with the desire to become a key player in Hansi Flick's scheme
Dani Olmo has everything to succeed at FC Barcelona. The arrival of the Spaniard to the culé team aims to strengthen Hansi Flick's squad, who wants to make history in the Ciudad Condal with a strong team that combines experience and youth. After many weeks of negotiations, the midfielder has returned to the place where he was trained as a footballer and where he can bring many benefits in the 2024/25 season.
And regardless of whether the signing of Nico Williams goes through or not, the culé fans should not worry. Sources close to the club have revealed that for the German coach, Olmo was the priority because he values the player's versatility, since at Barça he will be able to line him up in up to six different positions. Although the Terrassa native can play as a left or right winger, it has been Luis de la Fuente who has brought out his maximum potential so far as an attacking midfielder. In the Eurocup, he contributed three goals and two assists in six games with 431 minutes on the field.
In addition to this, he is a mature player with great footballing intelligence which, together with his training at La Masia for six seasons, has allowed him to have a high understanding of the occupation of spaces based on his position on the field and that of the ball. This makes him a key player in Flick's system.
Why is Olmo perfect for Flick?
At 26 years old, the player is ready to fit perfectly into the 4-2-3-1 that the German proposes. In this system he will be able to fight to be a starter in six positions: attacking midfielder, left winger, right winger, left inside midfielder, right inside midfielder and even a false nine. In this sense, he could contribute much more than Williams, because Barça has secured a complete team player, capable of playing in multiple positions without losing too much performance in those that are not his strong point.
Last season, as a left back at RB Leipzig, Dani promised a goal contribution per game, something extremely impressive considering that it is not the position where he is usually the best. Where he shines the most is as an attacking midfielder, but he will have a lot of competition from the likes of Gavi, Pedri, Fermin and Ilkay Gündogan. However, there is no need to worry because should he fail to carve out a place for himself, he can also be a great replacement on the wings, where Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are expected to feature more.
Flick will most likely see the Euro champion as a left-back, but he could also play in any other position if he so chooses. Being a player who knows how to read the game, he is able to make quick and effective decisions, so he can become one of the leaders on the pitch, being a link between his teammates and the coach. In conclusion, the possibilities that Olmo offers the German are endless, so it will be extremely interesting to see what he can offer us this season.