French star Kylian Mbappé’s Olympic dream has been dashed after he was excluded from the provisional squad for the Paris Games announced by coach Thierry Henry on Monday.
Mbappé’s Desire and Outside Efforts
Despite expressing his desire to play in his home country’s Olympics, Mbappé’s name was missing from the 25-man list.
Both coach Henry and French President Emmanuel Macron had publicly advocated for Mbappé’s inclusion.
Factors Affecting Selection
- Competing Demands: Unlike major tournaments, clubs aren’t obligated to release players for the men’s Olympic football event. With the Euros already on Mbappé’s schedule, participation in the Olympics would have offered little rest during the off-season.
- Potential Club Conflict: Though not officially confirmed, Mbappé is widely expected to join Real Madrid after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Macron’s plea to Real Madrid to “free up Kylian” for the Olympics highlights this potential conflict.
Who Made the Cut?
The provisional squad includes veterans like Alexandre Lacazette and rising stars like PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola.
The full squad breakdown is as follows:
- Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Obed Nkambadio, Guillaume Restes, Robin Risser
- Defenders: Bafode Diakite, Maxime Esteve, Bradley Locko, Castello Lukeba, Kiliann Sildillia, Adrien Truffert, Leny Yoro
- Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche, Joris Chotard, Desire Doue, Manu Kone, Enzo Millot, Khephren Thuram, Lesley Ugochukwu, Warren Zaire-Emery
- Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Alexandre Lacazette, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Michael Olise, Mathys Tel
This development marks a surprising turn for Mbappé’s Olympic aspirations. While the door isn’t entirely shut on his participation, his absence from the initial squad makes his involvement seem unlikely.
