Speaking in a recent interview with the Buyer Brothers (h/t SPORT), Barcelona attacking midfielder Dani Olmo shared some intriguing insights about his time so far at the club.
The 26-year-old Spanish international, a former La Masia trainee, returned to the club this past summer, arriving from RB Leipzig, and has quickly become an integral part of Hansi Flick’s team.
Olmo highlights the Fernandez cousins – Toni and Guille
During the interview, Olmo highlighted two young players, who are not yet part of the first team but have trained with the senior setup under Hansi Flick and did the pre-season as well – the Fernandez cousins, Guille and Toni.
“Yes, yes,” he remarked. “A lot of quality, both of them. One is left-footed, the other is right-footed. And they are in the same team, at Barça Atletic. A lot of quality for 16-year-olds. Be careful.”
Olmo is a fan of Toni and Guille Fernandez. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Olmo also revealed was his favourite Barcelona star to play alongside and the one with whom he feels the strongest connection on the pitch.
“Well, you already know,” he began. “Pedri. It is very easy to play with him. I mean, you watch him on the field and… he makes everything look easy with both feet. Do you know what I do? I take the ball and pass it to Pedri. That’s it.”
The Spanish international was also asked about the La Masia players who have impressed him the most, to which he pointed out this season’s breakthrough star Marc Casado.
“Well, the one who surprised me the most, now I know him a bit better, was Casado,” said Olmo.
“I did not know him that well because last year he did not play much, but this year he has had more continuity, and the level he is showing is spectacular.”
Beyond individual names, Olmo was asked about the differences in mentality between a team like RB Leipzig and Barcelona, a club that is always a contender for everything, despite recent inconsistencies.
“The mentality of the players is what sets it apart. Apart from being a big club, it is a team that wants to win everything every year. A draw or a loss is not acceptable; at Barça, it is about winning, winning, and winning every match,” he concluded.