'It's not all rosy' - Ex-wonderkid explains Barcelona transfer decision
Tom Weber
- Updated: 18 Sept 2023 15:30 BST
- 3 min read
Dani Olmo has revealed why he decided to leave Barcelona as a youngster.
The Spanish attacking midfielder is one of Europe's most intriguing commodities. Not only is he a supremely talented player, but he has enjoyed a rather unusual career path.
A product of Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, Olmo eventually left as a 16-year-old to make an eyebrow-raising move to Dinamo Zagreb. After impressing in Croatia's capital, he earned himself a move to RB Leipzig where he is now consistently shining after some rather up-and-down seasons.
READ: Man Utd to RIVAL Barcelona for €60m Spain star
Prior to the current campaign, the 25-year-old was heavily linked with an exit but he eventually put pen to paper on a new contract. Among his suitors had been Manchester City and his former club Barcelona.
The Blaugrana are still keen to bring their former prodigy back to the club, but Olmo has now revealed that he never would have left in the first place had Barcelona presented him with a long-term plan for his development.
What did Olmo say?
Speaking in the documentary Come on Futbol, Olmo said of his time at Barcelona: "I was happy at Barca. In four of the six years I was there, I was the top scorer, I played as a forward and winger, I was also an Under-16 and Under-17 international."
"What I wanted was a sporting project for me and Dinamo gave me that. When you leave Barca it's not all rosy and in Croatia I understood that. There I became a man in every sense, both on the field and off it."
READ: Belgian WONDERKID 'aware' of Barcelona interest
According to various reports in Spain, the Blaugrana are plotting a summer move for Olmo in 2024 and they have been heartened by the fact that the Spaniard insisted on including a release clause - believed to be around €60 million - in his new deal, which has been described as 'pro-Barca clause' ostensibly showing his desire to return to Catalonia.
