Raphinha says players could question joining Barcelona after Dani Olmo saga

Raphinha has said players could question whether to join Barcelona in the future after Dani Olmo and Pau Victor were dropped from their first-team squad.

On 4 January, Barcelona planned to lodge a complaint with the Spanish government in their last attempt to register the two players after La Liga and the Spanish Federation (RFEF) refused to change their position on the registrations.

Barca then lodged a complaint with the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), the highest sports body that subscribes to the Spanish government, after both Olmo and Victor were deregistered from their squad by La Liga.

Asked if the saga will have an impact on players signing or not signing for the club in the future, Raphinha said: “Yes, it could have an impact, I can’t say the opposite.

“If I was at another club and saw the situation they are going through, I would probably wonder if coming here is the best option.

“When I signed for Barca, I knew the situation the club was going through. I saw a chance to play for this shirt and I waited until the last minute. I don’t regret my decision at all”.

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On January 3, Hansi Flick told a press conference that he was “unsatisfied” with the situation of both Olmo, 26, and Victor, 23, neither of whom could be selected for the Copa del Rey match at lower league Barbastro – the first match since their registrations had expired.

The Catalan club lost their second appeal for the precautionary registration of both players on December 30, after their initial appeal failed three days earlier.

Typically, La Liga grants licenses to players for the duration of their contracts, but Olmo and Victor were only given temporary permits to register until the end of December to give the club time to prove new revenue streams.

Asked on Tuesday about Raphinha’s comments ahead of Wednesday’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final with Athletic Club, Flick said: “I don’t know. All I can say is that I trust the club.

“When I was in this situation (of signing for Barcelona), I knew the club, how great the club is and how great the team and the people around it are.

“I love everything about Barcelona. I signed the contract and I would do it again, I have no doubt. It’s great to work with everyone here.”

(Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)