According to RMC Sport, Atlético de Madrid do not want to allow Antoine Griezmann (32) to play at this summer’s Paris Olympics.
It’d been reported that the forward would be one of the three over-aged players that Thierry Henry would like to select for his France under-23s squad, alongside Olivier Giroud (37) and Kylian Mbappé (25).
Nothing has yet been decided in either case, as Henry has months before he needs to finalise his squad, and Atlético Madrid could yet relent. However, as things currently stand the Spanish side would prefer Griezmann to remain with the club while the Olympic Games are played.
Real Madrid will not allow Kylian Mbappé to play at Paris Olympics – the details. (L’Éq) ⬇️https://t.co/lfjscUNq8L
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This is particularly because their long-term fitness coach, Oscar Ortega, is going to step down at the end of the season. And his successor’s first preseason will be while the summer games are ongoing, a fact that will likely play a part in the conversations that will be sure to occur between head coach Diego Simeone and the Frenchman.
The other major concern for Atlético is that Griezmann will likely be selected for France during the nation’s Euro campaign weeks before the Olympics. Playing in both competitions would put immense physical strain on the now-veteran striker at the end of a long season, and would also mean that he would be entering the next campaign without either a recuperation period or a preseason with the club.
Despite this, Griezmann has made it known that he wants to be part of the Olympic squad. “I haven’t talked about it with the coach… but it would be a dream for me. If I’m called up, I’ll put extraordinary pressure on them to let me do it. It’s a dream, it’s a goal, it’s in France, it’s representing France. The Olympics. Everyone watches them. I want it and it would be a dream to be able to experience it.”
Ultimately, it will be up to Atlético whether he plays or not. FIFA does not consider the Olympics to be a recognised international tournament, and therefore it’s up to the club’s discretion whether they release players to the national side or not.
GFFN | Nick Hartland
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