Hansi Flick: «Registering Dani Olmo is not my job, but I hope to have him as soon as possible» | La Verdad

“It’s not my job to register Dani Olmo, but he’s ready to play and I hope to have him as soon as possible,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said on Friday, after neither the departure of Ilkay Gündogan nor the loan of Vitor Roque to Betis allowed the Blaugrana club to register the Euro champions in LaLiga.

The German coach says that Dani Olmo “is a player who will make the difference and it is better to have him in the team as soon as possible.” “I hope it will be against Athletic,” he added, when Barça will host Ernesto Valverde’s team on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Regarding Gündogan’s forced return to Manchester City a season later and the German player of Turkish origin’s decision to give up the two years of his contract remaining, Flick stressed that “it has helped a lot.”

“I am now leaving in a difficult situation, but if my departure can help the club financially, it makes me a little less sad,” Gündogan said in a farewell statement from Barcelona. “It has been a time full of incredible experiences and ups and downs. I always wanted to play for Barça and I am very grateful for a memory and an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. I wish you all the best for the season and for the future. The fans deserve that this great club is once again among the best in the world,” added Gündogan.

Flick revealed on Friday the conversation he had with his compatriot after Barcelona’s game at Mestalla and even hinted that it was not the club that pushed the player to leave, but that it was the player himself who opened the door. “After the game with Valencia we had an honest debate and he was aware that he wanted to help us, but he changed his mind this week. These things happen,” said the German coach.

The German midfielder, while his return to City was being negotiated, did not play in the first match of the league at Mestalla, where the Catalans responded with a victory, although another tough match against Athletic awaits him, with the excitement of Nico Williams at Montjuic. “We have players with a lot of experience to stop him. Koundé can take care of him and will do a great job in this regard. It is not my job to talk about a player from the opposing team,” concluded Flick.