Will Kylian Mbappe play in the Paris Olympics this summer?
There’s a chance that question will cause debate between the French striker and the club he’s expected to join this summer, Real Madrid.
This month, The Athletic’s Adam Crafton reported that officials from the French Football Federation (FFF), Ligue 1, France’s Olympics organisation, politicians from France’s sports ministry and Paris-Saint Germain team-mates have all sought to convince Mbappe to play at the Games.
Around the same time, sources closely involved in Madrid’s talks with Mbappe — who remain anonymous to protect relationships — indicated he would like to do so. “He wants to go, but it’s not for sure,” they said.
Teams participating in the men’s Olympic football competition, contested between July 24 and August 9, will be made up of under-23 players, but up to three overage players are allowed.
Recent media reports in France said the three overage players manager Thierry Henry would like to call up are Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud.
Madrid already have two regular France internationals in their first-team squad: 21-year-old Eduardo Camavinga and 24-year-old Aurelien Tchouameni. Ferland Mendy, 28, has played nine times for France but his most recent cap came in 2022.
However, La Liga’s leaders don’t intend to release any of their first-team players for the Olympics and they have already been informed. Because the tournament is taking place outside an official window for international football, FIFA rules state they are not obliged to release them.
On Tuesday, Henry — who is also France’s under-21 boss — was asked whether it would be a “disaster” if Mbappe were not to play.
“Like the France (senior men’s team) manager (Didier Deschamps) has already said, everyone wants to come,” Henry replied. “As for whether that’s possible, that’s another question and you already know why it’s difficult.
“What we’ll try to do is have the strongest team possible, but we don’t have certainty. We still don’t know where he (Mbappe) is going to go (regarding a potential transfer).”
Henry added: “Foreign clubs don’t see the situation the way we do, so for them, it’s a no. But I generally don’t stop at the first no.
Henry (second left) and Mbappe (centre) pictured in November (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
“We will try to see what we can do, but in the end, and unfortunately, the decision comes down to the club, because the Olympics are not on FIFA dates. You can’t bluff when you’re not holding any cards.”
Before Wednesday’s group stage draw pitted France against the United States, New Zealand and the winner of a play-off between teams from the African and Asian confederations, there was further evidence that they had not given up.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, FFF president Philippe Diallo said: “Having the best player in the world in France for the home Games would be a tremendous asset. I regret Real Madrid’s position in closing the door on a dream that many players have.
“I respect their decision and they’re the only foreign club to have informed us of this.
“I’m not denying myself anything, but they’ve made up their mind. If a door opens between now and the Olympics, we’ll push it. At the last Games, the FFF received 31 refusals from clubs. Our job is to try to have the best possible team. If we have to go and see (Real president) Florentino Perez in Madrid, we’ll do that.”
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The dates for the Olympic men’s football tournament coincide with Real Madrid’s pre-season tour of the United States. Carlo Ancelotti’s side play AC Milan on July 31, Barcelona on August 3 and Chelsea on August 6. It also comes shortly after the conclusion of the European Championship in Germany — with the final on July 14.
It does not appear that the issue of whether Mbappe plays at the Olympics has caused a great deal of tension in negotiations between player and club over his expected arrival on a free transfer this summer — but the noise around the subject is only growing.
Madrid have also already decided that no player involved in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals or beyond will take part in their pre-season tour as they will need to rest before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, with La Liga likely to get underway in mid-August.
On Thursday, Tchouameni was asked about the situation. “Obviously the Olympics in your country is something extraordinary,” he said. “But it’s our employer. If Real Madrid put a veto, there’s not much to say.”
Meanwhile, at Barcelona, sporting director Deco said on Wednesday that the club “does not want anybody in the squad to play at both the Euros and the Olympics”, speaking on Cadena SER.
Back in 2021, when the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Euro 2020 were held, Barca midfielder Pedri played in both tournaments as he made 73 appearances in his debut season as a professional, aged 18. He then rested for only two weeks before beginning the following campaign. In the seasons since, he has suffered a series of troublesome muscle injuries.
Pedri has said “we won’t know” to what extent they can be traced back to competing in such a remarkably high number of games.
But in a recent article on the subject, medical experts consulted by The Athletic said there was a clear connection between fatigue and his muscle injuries.
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(Top photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
