Spanish Teenage Talent Wants to Play for Croatia

Dani Olmo (Photo: GNK Dinamo)

Talented teenage Spanish footballer Dani Olmo wants to play for Croatia.

The 19-year-old arrived at Dinamo Zagreb in 2014 with a huge reputation after captaining both the Barcelona and Spain U-17 teams.

Olmo, who also represented Spain at U-16 and U-18 level, has since earned himself a regular place in the Dinamo first team and now wants to switch countries and have the opportunity to represent the red and white checkers.

Dinamo Zagreb Director Tomislav Svetina confirmed that the club was doing all it could to get the teenager citizenship.

“We will do all we can to get Dani Olmo Croatian citizenship. A few pre-emptions have already been made,” Svetina told Sportske Novosti.

After Olmo made the switch from Barcelona’s youth set-up three years ago to Zagreb, he always knew it was the right decision for his career.

Dani Olmo when he arrived in with Tomislav Svetina (GNK Dinamo)

“Barcelona is the biggest club in the world which gives a chance to its kids. Nevertheless, there is no other club where at my age I would get so many chances as Dinamo. I train and play with internationals who have experience at World Cups and Euros. Henriquez was at Manchester United, Eduardo kept for Portugal, Vukojević played for Croatia. Who could offer me that at my age? Barcelona? No chance! I am developing a lot faster than I would anywhere else, even at La Masia (home to Barcelona’s youth squad),” Olmo said a year after arriving.

“My former teammates at Barcelona were first shocked, and then they understood my decision to move to Dinamo was the right one. Whilst I am playing senior football, they will have to wait 2-3 years, and that’s if they make senior football,” he said.

If Olmo is successful he will be eligible for selection for Croatia.