Pedri (foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona midfielder Pedri has dismissed claims that Barça’s international players threatened to boycott the Spain national team over Dani Olmo’s registration controversy.
Pedri, speaking ahead of Barcelona’s Spanish Supercopa final against Real Madrid in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, rejected suggestions that players were prepared to refuse call-ups to the Spain national team in protest of Dani Olmo’s registration issue.
The rumors originated from Catalan channel TV3, which reported that Barcelona’s international players were considering a boycott if Olmo’s registration was denied. However, Pedri was quick to clarify:
"People said the Spain national team players wouldn’t go, but I heard that and was surprised by that—it’s a lie. I wouldn’t say no to the national team. I love playing for the national team. It’s a lie, I hope nobody believed it."
Spanish law mandates that selected players must answer national team call-ups, further undermining the validity of the boycott claims.
Olmo and Pau Víctor were initially de-registered by LaLiga on December 31 after Barcelona failed to meet a deadline to demonstrate compliance with the league’s financial controls. While Barcelona later provided the necessary proof, LaLiga argued that the players could not be re-registered under rules prohibiting players from being registered twice with the same club in the same season.
Barcelona appealed to Spain’s sports ministry, the CSD, which temporarily reinstated the players while the case is reviewed. Both Olmo and Víctor are now available for selection in Sunday’s Supercopa final.
"It’s good news for us," Pedri said. "The position they were in was very difficult. I’m happy for Dani and Pau, and for sure they’ll contribute a lot."
LaLiga is currently reviewing the CSD’s ruling, with several clubs, including Atlético Madrid, criticizing the decision. They argue it undermines the league’s financial controls and sets a problematic precedent.
Pedri, however, chose to sidestep the broader controversy:
"Every club has its opinion about each case. I’m happy to have them in the team; the two of them are important for us. What other people think is their opinion."