Kylian Mbappé Will Miss Paris Olympics: Disappointment Amid Anticipation
It's the end of an endless soap opera. Kylian Mbappé will not participate in the Paris Olympic Games with the France team led by Thierry Henry. The position of my club (Real Madrid) was very clear. I think I will not participate in the Olympics, said the Blues superstar, bringing a close to much speculation and anticipation.
Mbappé had often expressed his desire to participate in the Olympic competition at home, but his club's decision not to release its players posed a significant obstacle. An email sent on February 26 by Real Madrid to the French Football Federation already signaled their stance, even before Mbappé officially joined the club. Not even the intervention of the President of the Republic during a lunch on May 21 could sway the decision of Real's president, Florentino Perez.
Upon joining Real Madrid, Mbappé noted that starting a new adventure from September was not conducive to participating in the Olympics. Thierry Henry's pre-list omission of his name on June 3 further dashed hopes before the press conference on Sunday. Now, I will wish the best to this French team. I will watch all the matches, of course, as a supporter. I am an actor; I will be a spectator. I hope they will bring us the gold medal, he concluded. Without him, the French team's journey could be notably more challenging.
Mbappé Addresses Political Climate Ahead of Euro 2024
On the eve of facing Austria in the Blues' first match at the Euro, Kylian Mbappé took the opportunity to address the political situation in France and the future legislative elections. Emphasizing his role as a citizen, Mbappé urged the younger generation to embrace their values of diversity and tolerance and asserted the need for proactive civic engagement.
I want to address the French people, especially the younger generation. We have the opportunity to prepare for the future. We have to go vote. We need to identify with our values of diversity and tolerance, Mbappé said, highlighting the importance of making the right choices for the nation's future. Echoing the sentiments of fellow player Marcus Thuram, Mbappé stood by him, stressing the importance of freedom of expression.
- A lunch meeting with the French President Emmanuel Macron on May 21 aimed to persuade Florentino Perez to reconsider his stance but proved unsuccessful. This highlights the weight of club decisions in player engagements despite national hopes and sentiments tied to global events like the Olympics.
- Mbappé’s firm stance on civic engagement and the importance of voting underscores the growing interplay between sports figures and their influence on societal issues. His call to action for the younger generation to uphold values of diversity and tolerance comes at a crucial time as France gears up for legislative elections.
