This crisis includes sporting, financial and reputational dimensions.
On the pitch, Hansi Flick's side now face the prospect of losing their summer signing – an asset he could soon leave for free.
Financially, Barcelona must pay the full €48m (£40m) to RB Leipzig for Olmo, with a long-term contract running until 2030.
They will also have to pay him his contract total, a clause added to his contract, leaving the club with a financial gap of €120m (£100m).
In terms of reputation, this disaster tarnished the club’s image, especially the image of its president, Joan Laporta, who was voted in in March 2021.
Laporta, who personally supervised this case, now finds himself exposed.
Since the departure of CEO Ferran Reverter in early 2022 and the resignation of economic vice president Eduard Romeu in 2024, two of the 20 directors who have left have been unable to accept the way things are run at the club, and Laporta has refused to fill these crucial positions. roles, making him solely responsible for the repercussions.
The situation deteriorated further after Barcelona faced two swift legal defeats in less than 72 hours before the La Liga deadline, with the courts in Barcelona rejecting the club's requests for interim measures to register Olmo and Victor.
With these avenues closed, Laporta turned to the Spanish Football Federation, requesting new licenses for both players, which is not accepted by the Spanish League, which does not allow a player to register for the same club twice in one season.
The federation, led by Rafael Lausanne, has little incentive to challenge La Liga, especially after Tebas was recently appointed vice-president of Lausanne. This alliance has left Barcelona without allies, making Laporta's appeals useless.
Barcelona's last glimmer of hope lies in a proposed deal to sell VIP seats at the future Spotify Camp Nou for €100-120 million – a sum far less than the club could have secured under less desperate circumstances.
Barcelona claim the money was paid, albeit after the La Liga deadline, and are now trying to persuade the league to accept the payment and allow the players to be registered.
However, La Liga confirms that Barcelona failed to submit the required documents to confirm the deal before the deadline, meaning the club cannot re-register Olmo or Victor.
Ironically, while Barcelona may be banned from re-registering their players, they may still be able to sign new players. However, to facilitate all of this, the club was forced to pre-sell its seats in a stadium that does not yet exist.