Dani Olmo has revealed he came close to joining Barcelona in November after club representatives contacted his agent about a potential move.
The Spanish midfielder, who spent time with Barcelona’s academy, joined RB Leipzig in January after impressing for Dinamo Zagreb and the Spanish U-21 side over the past year.
How close was Olmo to joining Barcelona? Five things to know…
- Dani Olmo scored twice and assisted another goal for Dinamo Zagreb during the Champions League group stages.
- His form earned him a £17m-move to RB Leipzig in January.
- However, the midfielder has revealed he initially came close to joining Barcelona, having previously been at La Masia.
- Olmo says Barca contacted his agent for a quick deal before pulling their interest in the player.
- The Spaniard has since notched his first goal and assist for his new club.
Olmo has already notched his first goal and assist as a Leipzig player but had Barca stepped up their interest, things could have been very different for the 21-year-old.
“They spoke to my agents in November as if they wanted to do a deal very quickly, but then they postponed everything for one reason or another,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“And so until the end of January, they asked me to wait. Then they saw that I had almost completed a deal with Leipzig. I was already committed.
“I wanted to go to a team that had a present and future project for me. Leipzig offered it to me and other teams did not. They showed that they loved me more.”
Olmo’s new teammates Dayot Upamecano and Angelino have both been linked with moves to Barca themselves at the end of the season.
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Although he hasn’t spoken of transfer speculation regarding the defenders, Olmo has commended the pair, commenting on how impressed he’s been with them so far.
“Upamecano is very good,” Olmo added. “With the ball, he is very safe. I see him as a very complete centre-back.
“In one-on-one situations, he is very powerful, very difficult to beat. He is very young, only 21 years old and is one of the best centre-backs.
“On the other hand, I already knew Angelino. Our system suits him. It is the best for him because he is spectacular going forward and he is showing it. He is playing in everything and was very good against Tottenham in the Champions League, getting an assist in that game.”