William Saliba will not take part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after Arsenal reportedly blocked the player from being selected by France under-21 boss Thierry Henry.
The 23-year-old centre-back just about met the tournament’s age criteria but because the Games don’t fall under FIFA’s jurisdiction, the Gunners aren’t obligated to release him.
This is actually the second time this has happened to Saliba in the last three years although in 2021, ahead of the delayed Tokyo Olympics, France went as far as including him on a provisional list before he and 10 other players were withdrawn. Saliba subsequently joined Marseille on a season-long loan.
The Olympic football tournament starts on 26 July and finishes on 10 August, one day before the new Premier League campaign starts.
Given Saliba played every minute of the 23/24 league campaign and has been given the nod to represent France at the European Championships this summer – a tournament that starts in two weeks time and runs for a month – he’s going to need a rest at some point. In that context, Arsenal’s decision is hardly controversial.
Real Madrid also rejected an approach for Kylian Mbappe who is set to sign for the Bernabeu club in the coming days.
Henry quipped about the situation: “Why didn’t I call Mbappé for the Olympics? The last time I received so many rejections was at the University. There have not even been negotiations. You go, you ask, they say no and you leave.”
France have selected a few familiar names. Former Arsenal captain Alex Lacazette is one of the three over-23 names while Crystal Palace will be concerned that strikers Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise are set to play.
