"Mbappe to the Olympics? The decision is still up to the clubs"

Current France Under-21 coach and France Olympic team coach Thierry Henry wants to be able to count on Mbappe ahead of the Paris Olympics. The PSG player's time in the French capital seems to be numbered and his most likely destination is Real Madrid. The Spanish club have already said that, as they are not forced by FIFA, they do not have the slightest intention of loaning their players for the Olympics. 

Faced with this refusal, the French coach said: "I never stopped at the first no. We'll see what we can do. We will see what we can do. We will try to see if we can discuss, if we can be accepted... It is not easy. We don't want to be pessimistic, but the decision remains with the clubs". 

The former French player said he was not surprised by the decision taken at Madrid: "I imagined it. Clubs abroad don't have the same situation as us in France. The French clubs will be there to help, but for the foreign clubs it is normal that there is this kind of decision.

Henry has assessed all the possibilities around the French star: "We have to ask everyone. We don't know when it will be yes or no... It's difficult to prepare something without certainty. There are quite a few names we would like to have. If the agreement arrives and the player changes clubs, or there is a change of coach, things could change. You have to plan for different situations. 

France coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that the Madrid club had made it known to the French federation that it would not be loaning out its players to the Olympics. This includes, in addition to the French superstar, Camavinga and Tchouameni. 

 

March 18, 2024