According to AS, Olmo's nutritionist, Javier Fernandez, revealed the Spanish midfielder's dietary plan for the World Cup.
It's not about how it begins, but how it ends. This might sound cliché, but it's perfectly suited to Dani Olmo, whose tenacity is ingrained in his very being. Spain has benefited from this. At the European Championship, he rose from a substitute to a starter, becoming a key player. The same was true at the World Cup. As the "X-factor" under de la Fuente, he invigorated the attack and provided lethality. Olmo arrived in the Americas in excellent form, at the peak of his season. This was no accident; it stemmed from meticulous planning with his team and a great deal of behind-the-scenes work.
This is a World Cup plan specifically prepared for Olmo, and one of the driving forces behind it, nutritionist Javier Fernandez-Ligello, revealed some details to us. He has worked with many top players, including Camavinga, Mariona Caldente, Gianni Hermoso, Toni Martinez, Thiago Almada, and David Ciria. Olmo and Eric Garcia also connected through him. "It all started with Eric; we've been working together for four seasons," the center-back said, relaying the message first, after which Olmo accepted the arrangement.
“We started working together during his last season in Germany, and we’ve maintained a continuous, 100% partnership since he joined Barcelona.” Next, he explained, “We analyze the players’ blood test results and use that to plan the entire season. This year, working with Dani, we’ve designed everything around the World Cup. Of course, it’s not just me; his rest of his team and family are also supporting him, which is crucial.”
Every step is meticulously calculated and aligned with the rest of the body: "We control what each player needs to consume, assessing which foods are harmful and which are fine. We also communicate with the fitness coach to ensure everything is consistent and works together." One of the most significant adjustments is "reducing gluten intake." It's not about completely eliminating it, but almost eliminating it entirely. Similar approaches have been taken with other star players, such as Carvajal, who once said, "It almost changed my life," as well as Messi, Rakitic, Marcos Llorente, Djokovic, and Anthony Joshua.
Javier explained, “We reduce gluten intake because it causes inflammation, increases the risk of injury, and affects muscle recovery.” To further reduce the probability of physical problems, Olmo also incorporated “fasting” into his plan. He didn’t strictly adhere to the intermittent fasting his teammates did, like Marcos Llorente and Grimaldo, but he used it sometimes. “We schedule it on days with lower training intensity, when the load is lighter.” Why do this? “This optimizes the body’s condition and trains it to use energy when it really needs it.” How effective is it? “We’ve seen improvements at the muscle level, fewer injuries, and a significant improvement in overall performance. Looking at the data from each game, the progress is consistent and stable.” However, every method has its secrets, and Javier’s plan also has a few details, but “not everything can be revealed,” he said with a smile, then revealed one of them: “We make a pureed food with rice cereal added. Like the complementary food a mother makes for a baby.”
"Mixing rice cereal with protein and milk creates a food that aids in overnight recovery, especially muscle recovery," he said. "We usually use this method after players have played consecutive matches. Proper adjustment is important, and this is how we achieve it." This approach has put Olmo in peak physical condition for the tournament. He has already provided two assists, notably his one-two with Porro against France, which is just the tip of the iceberg. There's more to it than meets the eye: he ranks sixth in average distance covered at 9.4 kilometers, behind only Odegaard at 10.04 kilometers; and he ranks fifth in average accelerations at 190.5. He is indispensable to De la Fuente, just as he was in the European Championship. Olmo is patient enough to wait until he shines. He remains calm because he has a World Cup plan in mind.
