- 23 Dec 2024
Olmo wanted by Barcelona and Milan before Leipzig move
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
- 2 min read
Dani Olmo’s agent Juanma Lopez has revealed that both Barcelona and Milan were keen on signing his client from Dinamo Zagreb before he eventually made the move to RB Leipzig.
The attacking midfielder was on the books at La Masia before making a surprise transfer to Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 16 to continue his professional development.
Olmo would go on to make 85 appearances for the Croatian side between the 2015/16 season and 2019/20 before transferring to RB Leipzig in January 2020 for a reported £18m [€20m].
Even though it was Barcelona that Olmo left as a young player, the Blaugrana have always kept tabs on him about a potential return.
“Dani Olmo is a versatile player, he knows how to score, he has excellent technique, he is in the Spanish National Team.” Lopez told Gianluca Di Marzio.
“Can he reach one of the best European clubs? Of course, Barcelona have also looked for him in the past.”
Olmo’s agent also claimed there was some strong interest from Milan.
“Boban [then Milan director] liked him a lot, he tried for weeks, we also met in Milan,” Lopez added.
“He was in the company of his father, but in the end he chose the player and preferred to continue his growth path in the Bundesliga.”
Olmo has been a revelation at Leipzig since his move nearly a year ago. In the 2019/20 season in his first six months or so at the club he contributed five goals and five assists, and in 2020/21 has contributed two goals and four assists so far.
This January, RB Leipzig are poised to complete a deal for Salzburg midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
