Flick ´not happy´ at Olmo and Victor registration saga

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is frustrated that the club are struggling to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the second half of the season.

Barca applied to the Spanish FA for the licences on Tuesday after they lost a second appeal to register the players for the remainder of the campaign, with the club unable to meet LaLiga’s wage cap.

There has been no definitive announcement on what comes next but the pair are unavailable for Saturday’s Copa del Rey tie at Barbastro, which has displeased Flick.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Dani and Pau and the situation isn’t easy for them but they’re positive and want to play for this club.

“To be honest, I’m not happy about the situation. Nor are the players. But things are what they are and we have to accept it.

“I have to train them and everyone has to do their job. We have confidence in the club. I’m optimistic. There’s nothing left but to wait.”

Hansi Flick on #BarbastroBarça: “I’ve seen them and I like what they’re doing. We have to be focused from the first second, and show how we can play.” pic.twitter.com/87mrqbGau7

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 3, 2025

Flick is insisting his side remain focused despite all the noise surrounding the club and is encouraged by how his players have trained since returning from the winter break.

He said: “We’ve been doing very well in training. What I’ve seen has been very good. It’s the first game of the cup and they’re an opponent that plays well.

“I’ve been following them. We know what awaits us and we have to be focused.”

Flick added that he had not yet decided whether to give veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny his debut for the club, months after the player came out of retirement to join the Catalan side.

He said: “Szczesny has trained very well, but we have not made a decision, we will make it tomorrow before the match.”