The last thing FC Barcelona need is another injury concern, but that is exactly what they now have on their hands, in regards to Dani Olmo. The Spanish summer signing suffered a knock on his knee in the draw with Serbia, and he’s now been ruled of the national team’s second matchup this international period, against Switzerland. According to widespread reports, he’s returning to the Catalan club now, and that’s where he’ll be assessed, and we’ll go from there. Let’s also get you caught up on the latest with Ansu Fati, Fermin Lopez, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen as well.
Olmo, 26, came off in the 82nd minute of the European champions' goalless draw against Serbia in Belgrade on Thursday. Sources insist the injury is not serious, but it has been decided that the best course of action is for him to sit out the Switzerland match and return to his club. Barça, who have won all four of their LaLiga games so far this season, return to league action at Girona next Sunday and coach Hansi Flick will hope to have Olmo available.
Olmo joined Barça this summer from RB Leipzig for €55 million ($61m) but missed the first two games of the campaign because he was not registered due to the club's problems complying with LaLiga's financial fair play rules. He was eventually registered and made his debut in the 2-1 win at Rayo Vallecano, scoring the winning goal, and was again on target in the 7-0 victory over Real Valladolid before the international break.
Barcelona are back in La Liga action on Sunday when they travel to Girona, for a Catalonia derby. Perhaps Hansi Flick can give us an update in the next few days about whether or not Olmo will play a part in it.
Barça are short in midfield, where Olmo has been used by Flick, with Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal all injured, while Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gündogan both left the club in the transfer window. De Jong could return in the coming weeks, while Gavi is in the final stages of his recovery from an ACL injury that's sidelined him for almost a year, but Bernal is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Flick is also dealing with injury issues at the back, with centre-backs Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen both out for the foreseeable future.
Further forward, Ansu Fati is expected to be available after the international break and will add further depth in attack after returning from a season-long loan at Premier League side Brighton.
Olmo's Injury: A Blow to Barcelona's Midfield
The news of Olmo's injury is a blow to Barcelona, who are already short of options in midfield. With Gavi, De Jong, and Bernal all sidelined, Olmo's absence means that Flick will have even fewer options to choose from in the middle of the park. Olmo's versatility, allowing him to play as an attacking midfielder or a winger, made him a valuable asset to Barcelona, and his absence will be felt by the Catalan giants.
Ansu Fati's Return: A Boost for Barcelona's Attack
The return of Ansu Fati from his loan spell at Brighton is a welcome boost for Barcelona. The young winger has been sidelined for a significant period due to various injury setbacks but has shown great potential in the past. His return will provide Barcelona with an extra attacking option, and he could be a key player for them in the coming season.
Barcelona Injury Crisis: A Test for Hansi Flick
Barcelona's injury crisis is a major test for Hansi Flick. The German manager has already had to deal with a number of key players being sidelined, and Olmo's injury is just the latest blow. Flick will need to be creative and resourceful to overcome the challenges posed by the club's injury situation.
A Time of Uncertainty for Barcelona
The next few weeks will be a critical period for Barcelona. The club will be hoping that some of their injured players can return to fitness, and they will need to find a way to cope with the absence of others. If they can navigate this challenging period, they will be in a good position to challenge for titles this season.
Barcelona's Key Matches: A Chance to Prove Themselves
Barcelona have a number of key matches coming up in the next few weeks, including the La Liga clash against Girona and the UEFA Champions League group stage opener against Inter Milan. These matches will be a chance for Barcelona to prove themselves and show that they can compete at the highest level despite the challenges they are facing.
