“Dani” Olmo Carvajal has truly made his time in the European Championship count. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder, while he didn’t score any goals during the five matches he played, has made 20 attempts and provided three assists, all this while never receiving a card (and running more than 42 kilometres in the process, according to UEFA). His speed and passing accuracy, along with his versatility, make him a recognizable name across the news portals and reputable betting sites all over the internet – and a prime target for some of the biggest clubs in Europe – including Real Madrid.
Dani Olmo
Olmo started playing football at Espanyol’s youth academy at the age of eight, and one year later he moved to Barcelona where he spent the next seven years. In 2014, he joined Dinamo Zagreb – he was 16 at the time – and remained with the team once he turned senior. After 80 league games with the team, it was time for him to move on: he joined Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig, last January on a four-year contract. Since then, he played more than 40 league games with the club, scoring eight goals in the process.
Olmo made an impression in Spain’s EURO 2020 matches, providing vital assists and scoring a penalty against Switzerland.
A three-way tug – plus Barcelona
According to the Spanish football portal Defensa Central, Olmo’s impressive performance at the European Championship has put him on the radar of several major European clubs. The player – valued at €45 million, according to Transfermarkt, is courted by both major Madrid-based teams – Real Madrid and Atlético – along with Barcelona. Recently, it was reported that German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich has also joined the tug of war. DefensaCentral has reported that Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann has specifically requested the transfer of the young Spanish player.
Barcelona is interested in signing the Spanish player but it is an unlikely candidate. Due to its losses suffered last year, it has to cut almost €200 million from its salary fund to be able to confirm its summer signings already – and if Messi decides to sign with the team, things can get even more complicated for the Catalan club.
Real is another contender that might find itself incapable of signing the player, especially if the club is to pursue PSG’s Kylian Mbappé. The pandemic-ridden 2020 has left the team’s purse pretty thin. Olmo may still come to Madrid but to another team – Atlético has also been linked to his transfer this summer.
Bayern, on the other hand, is a likely contender. Nagelsmann has experience with Olmo already, as the two have worked together already on the Red Bull team. At this moment, the German team is perhaps the most likely to win the four-way tug of war for the talented Spanish player.
