ARSENAL and Chelsea blocked three stars from joining Thierry Henry’s France team for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Henry, 46, who is in charge of his country’s Under-21 and Under-23 sides, will be managing the national team this summer during the Olympics.
The legendary striker revealed his squad for the Games and included a number of Premier League stars but was deprived of three crucial players by the Blues as well as his beloved Gunners.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal’s record goalscorer wanted William Saliba in his defence but Mikel Arteta refused to let his top centre-back compete for his country.
Chelsea’s new boss Enzo Maresca also needs time to implement his ideas and thus decided against letting Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile link up with Henry.
However, there was a compromise as Maresca allowed Lesley Ugochukwu to travel to his homeland as he needs minutes to regain essential form.
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Henry won’t have any Arsenal players available, but will get to field former Gunners star Alexandre Lacazette who currently plays for Lyon.
The ex-Barcelona star has also included Crystal Palace duo Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise who set the Premier League alight after Oliver Glasner’s arrival at the helm of Selhurst Park in February.
There was also talk of Kylian Mbappe leading France during the Olympics but the Real Madrid-bound superstar wasn’t part of the squad.
Henry claimed he wanted Mbappe but he didn’t even get to negotiate his inclusion.
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The French tactician said: “The last time I received so many rejections was at the University.
“There have not even been negotiations. You go, you ask, they say no, you leave.”
Here Henry’s full provisional France squad for the Olympic Games:
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Obed Nkambadio, Guillaume Restes, Robin Risser
Defenders: Bafode Diakite, Mazime Esteve, Bradley Locko, Castello Lukeba, Kiliann Sildillia, Adrien Truffert, Leny Yoro
Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche, Joris Chotard, Desire Doue, Manu Kone, Enzo Millot, Khephran Thuram, Lesley Ugochukwu, Warren Zaire-Emery
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Alexandre Lacazette, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Michael Olise, Mathys Tel
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
