Dani Olmo spoke for the first time about the events that followed the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina, which witnessed clashes between the players of the two teams after the final whistle.
Dani Olmo
Club: Barcelona
The incident began when Molina struck Rodri without justification, prompting the Manchester City player to approach him in protest, before matters escalated into a mass brawl in which some Argentine players lost their composure.
During those events, Roberto Ayala, assistant coach of the Argentine national team, approached Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo and delivered an unprovoked strike to the Barcelona player.
Ayala later defended himself by saying, "It was more of a shove than a punch, and it was merely a reaction to some words."
However, Olmo categorically denied this account during an interview with a newspaper reported by the Spanish daily AS.
The Barcelona player said, "The person who says he feels sorry, then justifies throwing a punch as a response to words that were said, I do not think he truly feels remorse."
He added, "He is not telling the truth, because I did not say anything to him, so I do not need his apology. What defines our character is not committing the mistake, but having the courage to admit it."
Olmo affirmed that he does not want that incident to overshadow the achievement of the Spanish national team, stressing the importance of the image the team displayed throughout the tournament.
He said: "I want people to feel proud of the way we competed, the way we won, and above all, our conduct."
He also emphasized the responsibility borne by the players as role models for new generations, adding, "Football's stature makes players role models for children and new generations, and this places a great responsibility on us."
Away from the controversy, Olmo spoke about the reasons for the Spanish national team's success in winning the World Cup.
He said: "The group and collective work have always been above any individual."
He described the team as "a big family," affirming that success was not based on a single star but on collective work between the players and the technical staff.
He added, "Work; there is no other way to achieve the goal except hard work."
He concluded his remarks by affirming that success was not only the result of the physical aspect but also thanks to what he described as "invisible training", explaining, "Nutrition, rest, recovery, mental preparation, match analysis, and healthy habits are all decisive factors."
Olmo considered that these details were what created Spain's second world title in its history.
