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Barcelona star Dani Olmo has admitted he is puzzled by the circumstances that stopped Argentina international Julian Alvarez from joining the Catalan club this summer. Although the striker was reportedly keen on a move to Spotify Camp Nou, Atletico Madrid stood firm and refused to negotiate with a direct rival in Spain.

Olmo questions Atletico Madrid’s stance

Olmo returned to his hometown of Terrassa this week to celebrate Spain’s recent World Cup triumph, but attention soon shifted to Barcelona’s transfer business during the summer window. The 28-year-old was asked specifically about Alvarez, the former Manchester City forward who had been strongly linked with a move to Catalonia before Atletico Madrid decisively shut the door - turning down an offer worth more than €100 million and refusing to do business with a domestic rival despite the player’s wish to join Barca.

Speaking to reporters during his homecoming, Olmo made no attempt to hide his surprise at the way the matter was dealt with by those in charge at the Metropolitano. Asked whether he understood Atletico’s uncompromising position in the talks, Olmo said: ‘Understanding, I don’t understand it. In the end, we all have our dreams. I think Julian was also clear in that aspect. He fought for his dreams, but ultimately there are also other external situations that one can’t control. In that sense, that was one of them, it goes without saying. But life goes on. This doesn’t stop.’

Building for the future without Alvarez

Even though missing out on the Argentine forward was a setback for Barcelona’s long-term plans, Olmo remains convinced that Hansi Flick’s squad has enough quality and depth to compete for the biggest trophies. The Blaugrana have spent heavily in this transfer window, adding players such as Anthony Gordon, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus to strengthen the side.

‘For us personally, a very good year awaits us, for sure, with a lot of competition, because the other clubs have also reinforced very well, but I think we have plenty of squad to compete,’ Olmo explained.

Champions League ambitions and domestic dominance

Looking towards the new season, the former RB Leipzig player said he wants Barcelona to continue asserting themselves in Spanish football while also finally making a real mark in Europe. Barcelona have begun the domestic campaign perfectly, winning each of their first three La Liga matches. Olmo has appeared in all three games, although he is still waiting for his first goal involvement of the season. Even so, the Champions League remains the main target for a side that has found the knockout rounds difficult in recent years.

‘There are new objectives, to continue winning, to continue defending the titles of La Liga, the Copa, and the Supercopa,’ Olmo said. He stressed that the key aim is to ‘go for the Champions League, as we have plenty of team.’ He also spoke about the fierce rivalry with Real Madrid, saying: ‘It has always been like that. Real Madrid is a team that has strengthened very well, with great players. And so have we. In the end, the goal for both of us is to win everything. We will fight for what we have, as we always have. We’ve had two very successful years at the national level and now we want to achieve European success as well. That’s our objective.’

Respecting club decisions and team unity

The homecoming event also gave Olmo the chance to comment on the cancellation of a planned tribute at Spotify Camp Nou for Barcelona’s World Cup winners. The club decided to scrap the ceremony after the arrest of a member during a match in Elche, and the players have accepted that call without complaint.

‘In the end, the club decided that it was not the best time to do it,’ the playmaker said. ‘We as players, in the end, respect it. We know that the club values us 100% for that World Cup that we have achieved. It was thought that it was not the perfect scenario after everything that happened. In the end, it is respectable, it doesn’t matter.’