Dani Olmo is not experiencing his best spell with FC Barcelona. The attacking midfielder, who has scored just one goal since the start of the season, has struggled to capitalize on chances to cement his place in the team. While Fermín López has become Hansi Flick’s preferred option, the former RB Leipzig player continues to receive strong support from the Spanish national team.

“Olmo is being looked for. Although, perhaps, one could say he’s still looking for himself.” That striking line came from AS back in September. Still caught in a difficult patch, Dani Olmo now needs to rebuild his confidence as Barcelona head to Chelsea this Tuesday (9 p.m.). So far, he has only one goal and two assists, with seven starts to his name.

His latest contribution came just this Saturday in Barcelona’s 4–0 win over Bilbao in their return to Camp Nou. But rather than reassurance, the 27-year-old delivered a lackluster performance: four shots (none on target), no completed dribbles, just one key pass, and a pass accuracy of only 72%—far too low for a player of his technical quality.

After a promising first season with Barcelona, despite the drama surrounding his registration, the Terrassa native has been unable to build on that momentum. His offensive impact has been far too limited, especially in such a competitive area of the squad. “Lewandowski and Olmo are back, which is very good news for us,” Flick said on November 1. Yet while the Polish striker has scored four goals in that span, Olmo has remained silent through four matches, including two starts.

“I’ve watched Olmo and Fermín closely, and honestly, Fermín López brings more to Barcelona than Dani Olmo ever will,” pundit Gary Neville said after Barça’s 2–1 loss to PSG on October 1. “Soon, the fans will realize Olmo just isn’t at that level.” Fermín, 22, a product of La Masia, has taken full advantage of the opportunities left by his direct competitor. “He’s very dangerous for opponents. For us, he’s crucial—great on the ball and fantastic off the ball,” Flick praised on October 21.

A physique under scrutiny

Signed for €60 million—a major investment for Barcelona’s strained finances—Olmo is currently weighing heavier on the club than the impact he delivers. Tension has grown to the point where his agent and sporting director Deco met recently to discuss his future, as concerns about his physical condition also grow. “He’ll only be able to challenge Fermín for the spot once he’s fully fit,” AS wrote in November. “I’m following a training plan to prevent injuries, doing gym work. But it’s football—you can’t control everything,” Olmo admitted.

Despite this slump, one of Spain’s standout players from the last Euros continues to enjoy the full confidence of the national team. “He’s capable of playing in several positions and performs at a very high level for the national side,” coach Luis de la Fuente said after Spain’s 2–2 draw with Turkey on November 18. In that match, Olmo opened the scoring with a delicate finish, rediscovering the net and delivering a commanding performance as La Roja’s orchestrator.

“How important it is for Spain that Dani Olmo recovers his best version,” AS celebrated after the match, while Marcapraised his talent: “He’s one of those players who make the difference—and at a World Cup, that’s gold.” Mundo Deportivo added: “Olmo is pure magic. The kind of player people pay to watch—sometimes even at too high a price.”
A sentiment that Barcelona would certainly love to see fulfilled.