In his first official team press conference since the World Cup, Luis de la Fuente chose to speak out against Barcelona’s trophy snub.
After winning the 2026 World Cup over Argentina, Spain sent the trophy on tour around the grounds of teams that feature players who were in the victorious squad.
The trophy wasn’t always warmly welcomed, particularly at San Mames where Athletic Bilbao fans booed the gesture.
De la Fuente was in attendance as Aymeric Laporte, Unai Simon and Nico Williams lifted the prize to a mixed response.
However, in an effort to almost one-up Athletic, Barcelona rejected the trophy in its entirety.
Club president Joan Laporta announced they wouldn’t be allowing their eight World Cup winners to present the award, and instead said they would celebrate a separatist flag in an escalation of political tensions.
De la Fuente condemns Barcelona’s snub
Asked about the snub after naming his Nations League squad, De la Fuente said: “It saddens me, because I think it’s a well-deserved recognition of great players from the club who have won the World Cup—something that doesn’t happen very often.
“But don’t worry, they’re certainly celebrating it a lot, because wherever they go, people recognise their achievement: in Elche, in Valencia, and everywhere else they go.
“And I’m happy that it’s that way. But obviously, everyone likes to have their successes and all the hard work they’ve put in recognised at home.
“If that recognition can’t happen at home, then it happens somewhere else.”
De la Fuente had earlier commented on the reaction of Athletic fans, given it was a club he used to play for.
“I felt a great sense of pity, I’ll say that clearly,” he reacted.
“I was at Athletic for 18 years, I’ve supported them since I was a child, and I consider them a fundamental asset.
“Here, they taught me that there’s one thing you can never lose: respect.
“If we all start from a foundation of respect, I’m sure that coexistence will be absolutely easy and feasible.”
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