The French coach, Didier Deschamps, confirmed that Real Madrid has written to the French Football Federation (FFF) to indicate that it will not give up its players for the Paris Games. “I knew a long time ago that they had sent that email. It is a decision that corresponds to the club, and if it says no, it means no,” said the coach.
This decision closes the doors of the Olympic team to players who had shown their desire to play in the games, such as midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, but it could also affect Kylian Mbappé if he finally signs for Madrid.
The 25-year-old forward had expressed his desire to play the Games in his hometown, although in his latest statements on the matter he had been less forceful on the matter.
Mbappé announced a few weeks ago to PSG that he will not continue with the French club at the end of his contract on June 30 and everything indicates that he will sign for Real Madrid.
The Olympic coach, Thierry Henry, spoke in the same sense as Deschamps, ensuring that in the case of Mbappé they had the added difficulty that they do not know where the player will be next season. “We will try to do what is necessary at the club level, we know that (PSG) is going to leave, but we don’t know where,” said the coach, who regretted depending on the clubs in this case as the Olympic Games are not a date. FIFA and, therefore, not be obliged to transfer them to the national teams.
Henry, who will be able to count on three footballers over 23 years old, assured that they will try to meet with all the clubs, in particular with Real Madrid, which issued its veto on giving up its footballers for the Games. “I knew that many clubs were not going to lend them to the players, especially the foreign clubs, since the French are going to help us, but the foreigners reject it. I saw the email (from Real Madrid) and I expected it. But I “I’m not going to take the first ‘no’, let’s see what we can do,” he said.
Henry assured that “all the players want to go” to the Games, but lamented that “it will be difficult.” “We are going to try to talk to the club and see what we can do,” he said.
The Atlético de Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann is doubtful to face the next two friendlies of the French team having suffered from the ankle problems that he has been carrying for a few weeks, the coach, Didier Dechamps, indicated this Monday. “We are doing verifications throughout the day, we will take stock and make a decision tomorrow,” said the coach, who did not totally rule out that his most used player could be next Saturday against Germany and three days later against Chile.
Deschamps stated that Griezmann “has a problem with his ankle, he has suffered, even though he was able to play 45 minutes this Sunday” against Barcelona. The player was not in Diego Simeone’s starting eleven to face Barça, but he took to the pitch after the break.
Griezmann joined France’s training camp in the morning in its sports city of Clairefontaine, in the Paris region, where he underwent various medical tests.
The Atlético de Madrid player is the most used by Didier Deschamps since his arrival on the Blues bench in 2012. He could miss France’s last two friendlies before the final training camp for the next European Championship.
“Given his quality we are not going to find a player with his characteristics. If he has the record of consecutive games it is because he has been gaining a lot of weight. We know his influence on the team. Replacing position by position I don’t know if it is impossible, but very difficult. We will have to look for other types of solutions,” Deschamps said.
