Soccer Football - Joan Gamper Trophy - FC Barcelona v AS Monaco - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - August 12, 2024 FC Barcelona's Dani Olmo is presented before the match REUTERS/Bruna Casas
(Reuters) - Barcelona hope to have new signing Dani Olmo available against Athletic Bilbao amid the midfielder's LaLiga registration issues due to Barca's breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, manager Hansi Flick said on Friday.
Barcelona host Bilbao on Saturday after winning 2-1 at Valencia in their LaLiga opener.
Former Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, one of the top earners at the club, re-signed for Manchester City on Friday, clearing the way for Olmo's arrival.
"(The registration) is not my job, we have worked well this week, (Olmo) is ready to play and I hope he will be in the team, that will be very positive for us," Flick told reporters.
"In training he is amazing and it is important to have him as soon as possible."
Flick's side will be missing Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie De Jong due to injuries but will welcome back midfielder Fermin Lopez, who rejoins the squad after winning the European Championship and Olympic title with Spain.
"From what I see, he will be ready to play. It was important for him to rest after two tournaments," Flick said.
Flick said former Barcelona midfielder Gundogan had told him he wanted to help the LaLiga side but changed his mind.
"It happens. At the end, I know him as a person and as a player. He has been a fantastic player for Barcelona and the German national team," Flick said.
Flick was asked about the threat of Bilbao forward Nico Williams, who was superb during Spain's Euro 20244 run alongside Barca's Lamine Yamal.
"It’s not my job to talk about a player from the opposing team," he said. "Bilbao are physically very strong and they have a great coach. It will be a tough game."
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
