The narrative of how Dani Olmo became a starter for both Spain and RB Leipzig is fascinating, and it includes a trip to Croatia since Olmo chose Dinamo Zagreb over Barcelona when he was a 16-years-old.
Normally, it’s the other way around, but Olmo believed that the best way to advance his career was to make a move that many at the Camp Nou worried would make him irrelevant. Olmo moved away from Catalonia believing that Dinamo Zagreb’s vision would help him evolve as a football player, notably as first-team football was promised within a few months of his arrival.
In the round of 16 of Euro 2020, Spain will face Croatia, and Olmo will be pitted against many of his former teammates. The connection between Croatia and Olmo is unique since the Croatian Football Federation has attempted to persuade the midfielder to swap his international allegiance away from La Roja multiple times. He is regarded as one of their own.
Despite Zlatko Dalic’s ardent pleas for him to play for his squad, Olmo was always clear that his priority was to play for Spain. Dalic said, “we already let Zlatan Ibrahimovic escape, we can’t do the same with Dani Olmo”.
Olmo’s progress has attracted interest from Spain, with Atletico Madrid attempting to sign him before RB Leipzig. Barcelona also considered bringing Olmo back, but pride won out and they decided not to bring back a player who had already elected to leave.
Olmo is no longer the quick winger he was when he left Spain; he’s matured as a technical player and can now play down the middle. He’s a player that appears at ease at the highest level, which justifies his move to Croatia. Now, the country that handed Olmo his opportunity will be hopeful that he does not eliminate them from Euro 2020.
