PA Media/dpa
London
Dani Olmo has been named in Barcelona’s Super Cup squad despite his ongoing registration issues.
Olmo joined the Catalan club from RB Leipzig in August for a reported 60 million euros ($61.8 million), but Barca could only register him for the initial stage of the season due to difficulties meeting LaLiga’s wage restrictions.
The club had their latest bid to register the 26-year-old midfielder and Pau Victor rejected by LaLiga and the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Saturday and both players were absent from the 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Barbastro.
However, Olmo and Victor have both been named in Barcelona’s Super Cup team for their semi-final meeting against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
The Super Cup is being staged in Saudi Arabia, where defending champions Real Madrid are set to contest the other semi-final against Mallorca for a spot in the competition’s showpiece, which takes place on Sunday.
Barca’s last Super Cup triumph came in 2023, but a Vinicius Junior hat-trick saw them beaten 4-1 by Real in last year’s final.
Saturday’s Copa del Rey victory saw Barca recover from back-to-back LaLiga defeats and they sit third in the table, five points behind leaders Real.
However, midfielder Pedri believes a Super Cup victory can give the team "confidence” for the rest of the season.
Speaking on Barcelona’s X account, Pedri said: "Well winning the Super Cup, I think it’s a really nice title, it’s in the middle of the season.
"I think it’s a title that can give confidence to the team, which I think is very good in the middle of the season and that’s key for facing the upcoming matches.
"I think Athletic Bilbao has a great team, I think they have standout players and it will be a tough match.