Dani Olmo's Diet That Made Him a World Cup Starter

FERNANDO TAVERO, "AS"

It's not how you start, but how you finish. Perhaps a tired cliché, but Dani Olmo could have it tattooed on him. Because it's now ingrained in his very being. And Spain is smiling because of it. He began the European Championship as a substitute and ended it as a starter and a key player. The World Cup? The same story. He's become De la Fuente's 'X-factor,' bringing dynamism and sharpness to the game. All this after arriving in America in sensational form, at his peak for the year. At the top of his game. And that, like almost nothing else in football, is no accident. Behind it all lies a meticulously crafted plan, developed with his team. A lot of hard work behind the scenes. A 'World Cup plan' specifically for Olmo.

Part of this plan was revealed to us by one of its main architects – Javier Fernández Ligero, a nutritionist who works or has worked with many elite footballers (Camavinga, Mariona Caldentey, Jenni Hermoso, Toni Martínez, Thiago Almada, David Soria...). Among them is Eric García, who actually made the connection with Olmo. "It all started with Eric, with whom we've been working for four seasons now." The center-back gave him the tip, and the attacking midfielder listened. "We started during his last season in Germany, and since he signed with Barça, we've been working constantly, 100%."

After the 'what' comes the 'how': "We analyze players' blood tests and build the season based on them. This year with Dani, we focused everything on the World Cup. But it's not just me, of course! The rest of his team and his family support him, that's crucial." Everything, naturally, is very measured and in sync with the other elements that drive the mechanism: "We control what each player needs, assessing which foods are detrimental and which are not. We also communicate with the fitness coach so that everything is coordinated and fits together."

Gluten
One of the main changes is "reducing gluten intake." It's not completely eliminated, but almost. Something similar to what other stars like Carvajal ("it changed my life," he says), Messi, Rakitić, Marcos Llorente, Djokovic, Anthony Joshua... do. Javier explains: "We reduce it because of its inflammatory component. It increases the risk of injuries and hinders muscle recovery."

Fasting
Precisely to further minimize the risk of physical problems, Olmo has also incorporated "fasting" into the equation. He doesn't practice it as strictly as the intermittent fasting of some of his teammates (Marcos Llorente, Grimaldo...), but he does it occasionally. "We introduced it on days with lower training intensity, when the load is lighter." Why? "It can optimize processes very well and teach the body to use its energy when it truly needs it." And the results? "We noticed an increase in muscle mass, a reduction in traumatic processes, and a significant improvement in performance. Analyzing each match, the improvement was gradual."

And Baby Porridge
However, every method has a secret, and Javier's has several, but "not all of them can be told," he says with a laugh, before explaining one: "We include porridges that contain rice cream. They're like the ones mothers prepare for babies. This cream, mixed with proteins and milk, allows us to create a porridge that aids recovery overnight, especially at a muscular level." He concludes: "We usually use it when players come after consecutive matches. It's important to modulate it well, and this way we achieve it."

A plan that allowed Olmo to arrive at the tournament in his best physical shape. His two assists, especially the one-two with Porro against France, are just the tip of the iceberg. But there's much more beneath the surface: he is the sixth attacking midfielder in terms of distance covered (an average of 9.4 kilometers; Ødegaard leads with 10.04 km) and fifth in average number of accelerations (190.5). He is a fundamental player for De la Fuente, just as he was at the European Championship. A player who knew how to be patient and wait for his moment to shine. He was calm because he had his 'World Cup plan.'