Kylian Mbappe will not play in the Olympics with France… for now.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker, who is already training with Les Bleus for the European Championship in Germany, which kicks off on June 14, was not included in Thierry Henry‘s 22-man squad for the Olympics which starts on July 26 in his hometown of Paris.
Kylian Mbapp confirms his departure from PSG after the end of the season
However, the French are still hopeful he can be counted on for gold, with the coach reserving the option of calling up an older player over the age of 23.
“We don’t know what will happen between now and July 3. The list is quite real and it’s open to everyone. The door is not closed to anyone. The last time I had so many rejections was at school,” Henry said when questioned about the possible presence of Mbappe.
“The people I have spoken to have been very straightforward. There was no negotiation: you arrive, you ask, they say no and you leave.”
France‘s future at the European Championship and, above all, his move to Real Madrid will determine whether he is at the Olympics or not.
In addition, the French coach confirmed that the final list will include one more player over 23 years of age than the two already called up (Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta).
The final list will be published on July 3 and new players not included in the squad could be included.
Henry also failed to include Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) and Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) in the squad.
It should be remembered that, according to the rules, there can be three players over the age of 23 in the Olympic Games squad… but clubs outside the country are not obliged to release them as it is not a FIFA date. Therein lies the battle to have Mbappe once he lands at the Bernabeu.
“The Real Madrid thing? I thought so. Clubs abroad don’t have the same situation as us in France. The French clubs will be there to help, but for foreigners it’s normal for there to be this ‘no’. I never stopped at the first no. We will see what we can do. We will try to see if we can discuss, to be received…It is not easy. We don’t want to be defeatist, but the decision remains with the clubs,” the coach warned in March.
With his imminent announcement by Real Madrid, Mbappe is not in this first France squad for the Olympics. However, there are some notable players such as Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Leny Yoro (Lille), Michael Olise (Crystal Palace), and Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich).
France’s Olympic squad
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Guillaumes Restes (Toulouse), Obed Nkambadio (Paris FC) and Robin Risser (Dijon).
Defenders: Kiliann Sildillia (Freiburg), Bafode Diakite (Lille), Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig), Maxime Esteve (Burnley), Lenny Yoro (Lille), Adrien Truffert (Rennes) and Bradley Locko (Brest).
Midfielders: Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Khephren Thuram (Nice), Manu Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Enzo Millot (Stuttgart), Andy Diouf (Lens), Joris Chotard (Montpellier), Desire Doue (Rennes) and Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea).
Attackers: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich), Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) and Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes).
