Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick is hoping to win the first silverware of his reign this week in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia but the Dani Olmo registration debacle rumbles on firmly in the foreground.
Holder, Real Madrid, also the reigning Spanish and European champions, are favourites for the trophy, after thrashing Barcelona 4-1 in last season’s final.
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao face Barca in the first semi-final on Wednesday looking to win it for the first time since beating the Catalans in the 2021 showpiece, qualifying this season as Copa del Rey winners.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid tackle last season’s Copa runners-up Real Mallorca in Thursday’s second semi, with the final set for Sunday in Jeddah at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium.
Barcelona named Olmo, and young forward Pau Victor who is similarly unable to play, in their travelling party to head to the Gulf state.
Until they hear otherwise from Spain’s top sports court ,CSD, neither Olmo or Victor can play for the rest of the season in any competition.
Barcelona said at the weekend they would take their case to the CSD after two attempts to renew the duo’s licenses were rebuffed by courts, while La Liga and the Spanish football federation have rejected Barcelona’s registration attempts.
