PSG Star Has Desire to Play in Olympics Ahead of Potential Real Madrid Move, Macron Says

Kylian Mbappé will reportedly leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires in June. The 25-year-old is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent, but one of the issues surrounding his potential arrival is the topic of the Olympics.

Real Madrid isn’t letting its players participate in the Summer Olympics in Paris, which means if Mbappé does sign with them, he wouldn’t be allowed an opportunity to win a gold medal on home soil.

Nonetheless, French President Emmanuel Macron confides, having discussed with Mbappé’s father a possible participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

“I found myself on the field with his father last week [during a match of the Variétés Club de France, on Tuesday] and I asked him the question. He told me: ‘He wants to do them.’ I really hope that all European clubs will give their players this freedom,” Macron told La Tribune Dimanche (h/t RMC Sport). “I am pleased that all French clubs are doing it and I hope that others will follow suit. That’s the Olympic spirit: to elevate oneself.”

The Olympic football tournament does not correspond to a FIFA date, and clubs are not obliged to release their players to let them participate. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner decides to negotiate to play in the Olympics or whether he’s willing to let the opportunity go and focus solely on UEFA Euro 2024.