France President Macron Hopeful Mbappe Will Play At 2024 Olympics

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, is still optimistic that Kylian Mbappe would be permitted to compete in the 2024 Olympics.

When Mbappe’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the current campaign, it is rumoured that he will depart the team. Real Madrid is thought to be Mbappe’s next destination. Concerns have been raised regarding Mbappe’s availability, though, due to Madrid’s policy of not releasing players for the Olympics.

READ ALSO: PSG Boss Luis Enrique Talks About Leaving Mbappe Out of Barcelona Clash

FIFA international match dates do not align with the Olympic football event, which is limited to Under-23 players with three overage players allowed per squad. As a result, clubs are under no need to release their players to compete. Therefore, Mbappe cannot be made to leave Madrid for the Summer Games, when he will play for France in the 2024 European Championship. It will be an exhausting summer for Mbappe.

Despite these challenges, Macron remains hopeful of Mbappe’s participation and in an interview with RMC Sport, the president of France said: “We are going to do everything (to have a competitive team). I have confidence in the French and European clubs, if I may say so if you see what I mean. We have the Euro before, that’s the problem. I think the clubs have to play their part if we want to have a great show.”

When asked if he was talking about Real Madrid, he said with a wry smile: “Exactly, that’s what I meant.”

Macron added that he has not discussed this with Mbappe: “I have not yet spoken to him about that, but I hope that his club, in particular, allows it. And the other clubs too.”

Mbappe has said he remains open to playing in the Paris Games but at the same time acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with his club.

“It’s my employer who decides,” he had said. “It will be a pleasure to play in them, but if my employer doesn’t want to, I will support that decision. I don’t think it will take much time to think about it.”

The Olympic football competition starts on July 24 and ends on August 9. France is placed in the same group as the United States, New Zealand, and an opponent whose identity is not yet known. When the two teams rekindle their rivalry on Tuesday night in Spain, Mbappe is still intent on guiding PSG to a Champions League semi-final position at the expense of Barcelona by overcoming a 3-2 deficit from the first leg of their last eight match.