The Barcelona midfielder and world champion with Spain claims he said nothing to the former Argentine defender and that his apologies are insincere.
The FC Barcelona player Dani Olmo has broken his silence regarding the altercation he had with Roberto Ayala after the 2026 World Cup final. In an interview with Diari de Terrassa, the Spanish international firmly denied the account of the Argentine coaching staff member, who expressed regret for a punch he justified as a response to provocation.
“Someone who confesses to being regretful, yet justifies a punch by claiming it was a response to something said, surely does not feel regret because they are lying. I didn’t say anything to him, so I don’t need him to apologise,” Olmo stated.
The incident occurred moments after the referee signalled the end of the match, when Spain was crowned world champion. Ayala, who is part of the Argentine national team staff, struck Olmo and later apologised, claiming that the Spanish player had said something that upset him.
However, Olmo maintains that no such provocation ever occurred. “What truly defines us is the courage to admit mistakes with humility, truth, and dignity,” the midfielder expressed, making it clear that for him, regret must be genuine and without excuses.
The world champion also reflected on the responsibility that footballers have as social role models. “When my children, my family, and so many fans watch the match, I want them to be proud of how we compete, how we win, and above all, of our behaviour, because the significance of football means that players are examples for children and new generations, and that carries a huge responsibility,” he affirmed.
Despite the controversy, Olmo wanted to focus on the sporting achievement. “Thank God, what really matters is that Spain won the World Cup,” he pointed out, downplaying the incident and valuing the work of the entire team during the competition.
The player, born in Terrassa, has made it clear that his priority is collective success and that he will not allow this episode to tarnish the Spanish national team's achievement. “Millions of people watch each match, and children end up taking many behaviours of the protagonists as examples. I want them to be proud of how we compete and how we win,” he concluded.
The interview has generated a significant stir in the football world, as it openly contradicts Ayala's version and calls into question the sincerity of his apologies. Meanwhile, Barcelona is preparing for the start of the next season with Olmo as one of its key players.
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