Barcelona will be unable to play key summer signings Dani Olmo and Pau Victor in the second half of the La Liga season after their registration requests were rejected by Spanish football authorities. The club's attempts to extend the players' registrations, initially limited to just the first half of the season due to wage cap restrictions, have been denied, leaving both players facing an uncertain future in Catalonia.

Olmo, 26, a pivotal part of Barcelona’s midfield following his move from RB Leipzig for approximately €55 million ($56.7 million), was instrumental in Spain’s success at the recent European Championship. Meanwhile, Victor, 23, has had a more reserved role, predominantly serving as a substitute during his time with the team.

A joint statement from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and La Liga clarified that they would not grant the license requested by Barcelona for both players, stating, “The monitoring committee agrees not to grant the prior approval or the definitive licence requested by FC Barcelona for the players Daniel Olmo Carvajal and Pau Victor Delgado” (source: BBC).

This situation is particularly frustrating for Barcelona as they currently sit third in La Liga, trailing leaders Real Madrid by five points. The club's financial constraints have prompted past registration issues, most notably the departure of Lionel Messi in 2021 due to wage limitations. Despite the recent improvement in the club’s financial standing, both the RFEF and La Liga reiterated their adherence to rules that prevent re-registration of players whose previous licenses have been canceled within the same season.

Barcelona's management is reportedly planning to challenge this decision through a complaint to the Spanish government, although there has been no official comment from the club as of yet. Olmo and Victor were absent from the squad for their Copa del Rey match against Barbastro, with their profiles already removed from the La Liga website, replaced with a message indicating “We do not have any data on this player” (source: Reuters).

Uncertainty looms over Olmo's future, with speculation that he may seek to leave Barcelona if the situation remains unresolved.