French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday pressured European clubs to release their players for the Paris Olympics men’s football tournament this summer, placing particular emphasis on Real Madrid, with France star Kylian Mbappé reportedly joining the Spanish giants at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract in June.
The men’s Olympic tournament is not included in FIFA’s international windows and thus clubs are not required to release their players to the national teams. It is also an under-23 competition, though three senior players are permitted in each squad.
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The issue is complicated by the fact that the men’s European Championship takes place in June and July this summer and concludes just weeks before the Olympic football tournament begins.
“I think that European clubs need to play the game so that we can put on a great show,” Macron told RMC Sport.
