Thierry Henry unveils a pre-list for the men’s tournament of the Games

– 25 players selected in this “least virtual possible” pre-list which “can evolve and will evolve”

– No Kylian Mbappé even if he does not “draw a line” on his very hypothetical presence. “The last time I took this many rejections, I was in middle school!”

– Two players over 23 years old retained (Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta) and a third awaiting the club’s response

– Thierry Henry regretted the numerous refusals of foreign clubs to release players like Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) or Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile (Chelsea)

“You see the players who are on the list, we had to make a choice.”

“Yes, I spoke with players to find out if they were leaving and that could be another problem, particularly if he goes abroad. I wake up and I see if there isn’t something that changed.”

“Didier has a Euro to prepare. After this list, there will be a lot of discussions with clubs so, no.”

“Discussions with Bayern for Tel? The club, yes. At Chelsea, they just left Ugochukwu to me. I was told that Mathys Tel could come. It may seem quite cold but that’s exactly what he happened.”

Why did Chelsea refuse Gusto? “Ask them. Have you ever talked to someone when you can’t argue?”

“I’ll be honest. The discussion ended right outside the door (before the press conference), I’m waiting for a certain answer. I’m trying to be honest and not give false hope. When will it arrive , you will find out.”

“I haven’t been told no. That’s how I operate.”

“The environment is provided, quite simply. It’s open for everyone. We talk about Kylian, we talk about Rayan but it doesn’t bother you that there is no Malo Gusto, Badiashile (players of Chelsea)?”

“Normally, it should be reinstated, it’s simply on the list.”

“I’m not disappointed, nor surprised. The clubs are within their rights. If you give a club the possibility of saying no, it’s complicated.”

“Same. Clubs abroad. I didn’t have an opportunity.”

“The people I spoke with were very direct yes.”

“I have not yet received any refusal from French clubs.”

“He’s an A-level player but I’m not saying he should have played at A level. He’s a player we targeted, a leader of men, we know what he can do on the ground.”

“You don’t draw a line, in hope. We don’t know what will happen but I have to give you a fairly real list and not start doing things where we are not in reality. The list can evolve but you have to give a list so that the players can prepare. You don’t close the door to anyone. You come, you ask, you are told no and you leave. Last time I took this many rejections was in middle school!”

“Players will have to leave. Warren’s case is special. He’s passing his baccalaureate. It’s already difficult for a normal person but we try to have the best team possible. We’re talking about the integrity of a player.”

“There will be three over 23s, but I couldn’t tell you more. But it’s not easy to ask the clubs who are within their rights.”

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Obed Nkambadio (Paris FC), Robin Risser (Strasbourg)

Defenders: Bafodé Diakité (Lille), Maxime Estève (Burnley), Bradley Locko (Brest), Castello Lukeba (Leipzig), Kiliann Sildillia (Fribourg), Adrien Truffert (Rennes), Lenny Yoro (Lille)

Midfield: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Joris Chotard (Montpellier), Désiré Doué (Rennes), Manu Koné (Mönchengladbach), Khephren Thuram (Nice), Enzo Millot (Stuttgart), Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG )

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes), Alexandre Lacazette (OL), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Michael Olise (Crystal Palace), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)

“Before giving the list, it is the least virtual list. It can change until July 3. We took two names 25 minutes ago, that’s the situation. We thank the clubs who have says yes. It can and will evolve.”

After fifteen days of training at Clairefontaine, the Bleuets will have three preparation matches to play. The first against Paraguay on July 4 in Bayonne, the second against the Dominican Republic on July 11. A final test is planned against Japan on July 17 in Toulon. The French Olympic team will begin its tournament on July 24 against the United States at the Stade Vélodrome.

Youngsters Bradley Barcola (21) and Warren Zaire-Emery (18) will not be released by PSG. For Kylian Mbappé, whose transfer to Real Madrid will be made official this Monday, a slim hope remains. But apart from him, no A selected in Didier Deschamps’ list will compete in the Paris Olympic Games this summer. A heartbreak for Antoine Griezmann who was still applying last week, mentioning this “dream”. “It’s the club that decides. For the moment, they are not too supportive. It will be decided in the last moments. I can’t do anything else.” Scheduled from July 24 to August 9, the Olympic football tournament is not part of the Fifa dates and clubs are therefore not obliged to release their players.

Concerning the framework of the list of 22 players (18 elements + 4 reserves), Thierry Henry must obtain the final approval of the French clubs to release the U23 players he wants and deal with the vagaries of the transfer market, certain players that may be prevented by their new club. Among the pitfalls that present themselves to him, the question of the three players born before 2001 is not an easy matter. Unless there is a surprise, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé will not be there this summer. The first and the last because their respective clubs do not want to see them double Euro-JO this summer after a tiring club season, the second because he chose to go to the United States.

Welcome to the RMC Sport site and app to follow with us the announcement of Thierry Henry’s first list for the 2024 Olympic men’s football tournament. The Bleuets coach will lift some of the suspense from 11 a.m. this Monday morning, but only part of it, because he still has to overcome obstacles to form this group. Adjustments will have to be made within this group which, we know even before we know it, is not fixed, far from it.