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The French Football Federation (FFF) has received written confirmation from Paris Saint-Germain that they do not want superstar Kylian Mbappe involved in this summer’s Olympic Games in Japan, sources have confirmed to ESPN.
The France international is almost certain to feature in Didier Deschamps’ squad for this summer’s European Championship, which would finish less than two weeks before the Olympics get underway — assuming Les Bleus go all the way to the Wembley final in London.
According to ESPN sources, PSG have expressed to the FFF their desire to not see Mbappe — nor any of his French teammates at Parc des Princes — selected in the final Olympic squad after the 21-year-old was included in coach Sylvain Ripoll’s 80-man pre-selection.
Back in December, Mbappe admitted that he still harbours his long-standing dream of representing France at the Olympics, but he stressed that he would not argue with PSG over the matter.
“Of course, I want to go,” he said. “However, if my club — my employers — do not want me to go, then I will not clash with them.”
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel, while unable to confirm communication between PSG and the FFF, admitted before and after Wednesday’s 5-1 Coupe de France semifinal win away at Lyon that no Olympics for Mbappe, who scored a hat trick in the match, would suit him
France coach Didier Deschamps recognised that it is PSG’s right to refuse selection for Mbappe and their other French players.
As recently as this January, Mbappe spoke again of his ambition to win this summer’s Olympics — as well as this season’s Champions League with PSG and this summer’s Euro with the French.
“[My dream] would be a Treble of the Champions League, the European Championship and the Olympic Games,” said the former Monaco man. “That would not be bad.
“It seems unattainable for the time being, but I am going to make sure that I fulfil this dream. It would be a proud moment to be able to win the first European [title] for PSG and for our country to keep winning.”
PSG intend to take the same line that they have taken with the FFF on Mbappe and his French teammates with the likes of the Brazilian, Spanish, Argentinian and German football associations, with players such as Neymar, Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Maria and Julian Draxler in the squad, said ESPN FC sources.
The Brazil international already stated his interest in representing his country in the event that they qualified for the Olympics, which he and teammate Marquinhos already helped to win back in 2016.
Despite the initial setback, the FFF have not given up hope of securing Mbappe and they are likely to ask again between now and the end of the season.
Mbappe’s hat-trick during against Lyon means that he now has 90 goals for PSG from just 119 appearances, which makes him the seventh highest scorer in the capital club’s history and within eight goals of the top five.
Elsewhere with PSG, ESPN FC sources can confirm that the French champions are planning an all-star match on Aug. 29 between current and former greats, with hope that the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, George Weah and Pauleta will be among those taking part.