Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
Paris Saint-Germain wrote a letter to the French Football Federation warning them Kylian Mbappe would not be made available for the Tokyo Olympics
French star Mbappe has been named in France’s 80-man preliminary France squad for the 2020 Olympic Games but French sports magazine L’Equipe claim Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had written a letter warning the French Football Federation he would not be made available for the tournament.
The magazine, speaking with French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet today (Tuesday 3rd March), claims that PSG do not want their players to take part in multiple international competitions one after the other.
L’Equipe report that last week PSG sent a letter to the French Federation to indicate their opposition to the selection of Mbappe for the Tokyo Olympics, despite the striker reportedly being in favour of participating.
In June 2019, while in Japan, Mbappe reportedly said: “The people here are very welcoming, very friendly, I really want to come back as soon as possible.”
He reportedly added: “Why not next year for the Olympic Games? I always said it was a dream. There again, it’s not only up to me.”
L’Equipe also give the same reason for PSG reportedly not wanting to make Neymar available for the Olympics.
Le Graet told L’Equipe on 13th February that Mbappe was in favour, saying: “He wants to. Our coach (Sylvain Ripoll) is very keen. I would rather have him at the Olympics, especially for the image. He’s a boy who’s already at the top of his game. But I put myself in the place of PSG.
“They may not really want him to do all the competitions. But I don’t think they would object. In terms of image, it would be complicated for them. And for us, complicated not to select him.”
And speaking with L’Equipe today at the UEFA annual Congress in Amsterdam, Le Graet is quoted as saying: “Mbappe is on a pre-list of 80 players for the Olympic Games, drawn up by Sylvain Ripoll, which will drop to 50 soon, then to 18 plus 4 reserves. He’s old enough to go. Like all young people of his age who have talent, he is on the list.”
But Le Graet added:” Club presidents, in general, find that the dates are not good. That is how it is.”
But there is still a chance Mbappe could play in Tokyo according to L’Equipe who say that Le Graet is “combative in nature” and that he has not “necessarily given up on changing the minds of the Paris bosses”.
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