Inside Spain is a weekly segment brought to you by Football España, offering an insight into all the key stories emerging from the rich and intense atmosphere in La Liga and beyond.
With no matches until January 3rd, and the transfer window yet to open, you might have been expecting a quieter Christmas break in Spain. And here is Barcelona entering the stage on the right.
As things stand, Barcelona will not be able to play Dani Olmo or Pau Victor for the rest of the season, after the end-of-year deadline passed without them being registered. Originally they were signed using Andreas Christensen's salary cap space, due to the contingent injury rule. But with Christensen returning from injury, Barcelona had to find the funding to sign Olmo and Victor.
The added element to this is that players cannot be registered twice, meaning that if La Liga cancels their registration, not only will they not be able to play for Barcelona for the rest of the season, they cannot be loaned out either. Olmo also has a clause in the contract that allows him to leave for free if he is not registered – having cost €55m just four months ago, and with his full €48m salary from his six-year contract. A mistake worth 103 million euros. That's why I've seen Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea linked to him.
As of Thursday afternoon, Barcelona say they are optimistic that La Liga will sign them up. They say they submitted the documents for the sale of VIP boxes worth €100 million over the next 20 years at Camp Nou (once it opens), but it was La Liga that requested additional guarantees, hence the delay. However, they are certainly playing fast and loose, and President Joan Laporta is risking his tenure.
“I have to admit it when I fell #FCBarcelona I never imagined that I would only win one Spanish League title, one Copa del Rey, and one Super Cup after 4 years. “I was expecting at least double that, and this disappointed me.”
??Frenkie de Jong to Voetbal International. pic.twitter.com/AQpqRJO1rL
– Spanish Football (@footballespana_) January 2, 2025
Then there's Trent Alexander-Arnold – who is also likely to be available on a free. Liverpool may have informed him that he would not be leaving, and that he could still sign a new contract, however Real Madrid feels confident enough to want Alexander-Arnold Move to announce their intentions. They either sign him for free next summer, or get him for a lower price next January. That's why the offer is now seen as a free hit in their eyes, with Carlo Ancelotti pressing for reinforcements given Lucas Vazquez is the only right-back currently available.
Los Blancos are also looking for other positions: Alphonso Davies listens to Bayern Munich's offer before theirs. Real Madrid has agreed terms with him, but will not renegotiate, and is less optimistic about this deal. They have reportedly looked to William Saliba – with a positive response – for a potential future deal. Barcelona are also looking for Thomas Partey As a potential option at the end of his contract (we know money is an issue).
In the other direction, Espanyol is sticking to the asking price of 25 million euros to sign Joan Garcia, the Arsenal goalkeeper who moved to him last summer. Their financial struggles may force them into an uncomfortable negotiating position. Finally, Frenkie de Jong said he would leave Barcelona if he didn't feel he could contribute effectively… which many Barcelona fans pointed out as he didn't come off the bench against Leganes or Atletico Madrid in their last two matches. His contract expires in 2026, and extension talks are likely to be difficult.
