After Kylian Mbappé, it is the turn of Antoine Griezmann to announce his desire to compete in the Olympic Games in 2024. But the Mâconnais will have to convince Atlético to release him.
These 2024 Olympic Games are definitely attractive. After Kylian Mbappé, who has expressed his desire to be part of the adventure on several occasions, it is Antoine Griezmann who is now applying. “I will do everything to participate in the Paris Games”confides the French international in the columns of Le Monde, where he describes the Olympics as “an exceptional event”.
Griezmann’s problem is the same as Mbappé’s. As the Olympics do not take place on a date reserved by Fifa, clubs are not obliged to release their players for this tournament. Griezmann will therefore have to persuade Atlético de Madrid to grant him an exit voucher for a few weeks. “ I will have a discussion with the leaders, in due time, to find out if they will let me go,” explains the Mâconnais.
Mbappé, Griezmann and…?
If Griezmann plays the Olympics at the end of July after taking part in the Euro a few weeks earlier with Didier Deschamps’ Blues, he will undoubtedly have to cut back in August, in the wake of the Olympic tournament. His start to the season with Atlético would be delayed, and this is what could push his club to block him.
As a reminder, the Olympic football tournament is reserved for men for players aged 23 or under. But each selection can also field three jokers, with no age limit. The Espoirs coach, Thierry Henry, could therefore be able to count on Mbappé and Griezmann, if they obtain the agreement of their club. To avoid the Euro-JO duplication, the Bleuets could call on players who have retired internationally, such as Raphaël Varane and Hugo Lloris, but the latter declared that he had not planned to play the Olympics.