Barcelona is facing a tough time both on and off the field as financial troubles cast a shadow over their plans. The team traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, but the unresolved future of Dani Olmo has become a major talking point. Due to financial restrictions, Barcelona hasn’t been able to officially register him in La Liga, which has created uncertainty and frustration.

Before their big semi-final match against Athletic Bilbao, Raphinha spoke to the media and didn’t shy away from addressing the issue. When asked if Dani Olmo’s and Pau Víctor’s situations could hurt Barcelona’s chances of bringing in new players, Raphinha gave an honest answer. He admitted, “Yes, I think it could. Saying otherwise would be lying, and I’m not the type of person who lies. If I were at another club and saw what’s happening with Dani and Pau, I’d definitely think twice about coming to Barcelona.”

Raphinha’s straightforward comments come after manager Hansi Flick also expressed his concerns about the situation. Flick previously voiced his frustration before their Copa del Rey match against UD Barbastro, and he echoed similar worries after hearing Raphinha’s remarks. The manager admitted that the ongoing struggles will likely have a “negative impact” on the team.

Barcelona has been trying hard to fix this issue. Their attempts to register summer signings like Dani Olmo were recently blocked by La Liga and Spain’s soccer federation. On January 4, the club escalated the matter to the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), a government-linked sports organization, in what seems to be their last attempt to resolve this.

Despite all this, Raphinha remains hopeful. He shared that when he joined Barcelona, he already knew about the club’s financial struggles. “I knew there was only a one percent chance of playing for this team when I signed,” he said. “I had to wait until the very last moment, but I don’t regret it. We just need to trust that everything will be sorted out soon.”

After Raphinha’s press conference, Barcelona held their final practice session before the big semi-final. During training, club president Joan Laporta was spotted talking to Raphinha, adding even more intrigue to the situation.

The stakes are high for Barcelona. If they beat Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final, they’ll likely face rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday—a chance to secure their first trophy of the season amidst all the chaos off the pitch.