Spain v Czechia - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A3 MD3
OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Dani Olmo of Spain reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
Luis Mazariegos Luis Mazariegos has been a lead writer and editor for Barca Blaugranes since 2012, bringing tactical analysis, transfer reports, opinion columns, and investigative coverage to the SB Nation network. An award-winning journalist, he has held press credentials for Champions League and La Liga fixtures – reporting live from the stadium, press box, and press conferences. He frequently provides commentary as a guest on football podcasts and radio shows. In addition to his sports media work, Luis spent over a decade in broadcast television and currently serves as an editor for a major digital news network.
Dani Olmo’s agent has recently revealed that the FIFA World Cup winner has been donating 2% of his salary for years to help families in Croatia.
It’s a story Olmo recently confirmed before Spain’s 2-1 win over Croatia in Split. Olmo has a connection with Croatia, having moved there as a teenager. Born in Catalonia and having spent time in the Espanyol and Barcelona academies, Olmo eventually joined Dinamo Zagreb’s youth setup. He spent five years in Zagreb and made his professional debut there. He later joined RB Leipzig in 2020 and FC Barcelona, his current club, in 2024.
His agent, Andy Bara, was the first to leak the information that Olmo has been quietly setting aside some money for Croatian families. “Since leaving Dinamo Zagreb, Olmo donates 2% of his total annual salary to the Vukovar charitable foundation,” Bara said on a podcast.
Olmo was asked about it at the presser. Speaking in Croatian, the midfielder said he “didn’t know Andy would reveal all of that.”
“When I left, I felt grateful to Croatia and I wanted to repay the favor,” he said.
“We decided to make these donations to the families of Vukovar. I felt that I owed them, and I thought this was the best idea,” the Spanish player said.
Olmo developed a connection with Vukovar, a Croatian city located on the Danube river, after speaking with families who survived a harrowing battle during the Croatian War of Independence. The city was nearly reduced to rubble following an 87-day siege in 1991 by the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA), which was supported by Serbian paramilitary forces.
“These are significant amounts because he earns a large salary, and this has been ongoing since his time at RB Leipzig, and now with FC Barcelona. He does not speak about it publicly, but I want to reveal it because it deserves praise,” his agent said on the podcast.
The donations were made as part of the Common Goal initiative, co-founded by former Spain international Juan Mata, which asks footballers to donate part of their salary to charity.
“Through Common Goal and through football, we were able to help a little,” Olmo said.
During the pre-match lineup announcements, Olmo’s name was given an ovation by Croatian fans.
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