Chelsea will prevent Enzo Fernandes and Mihailo Mudric from taking part in this summer's Olympics.
The men's Olympic soccer competition begins on July 24, 10 days after the Copa America and Europa League finals. Fernandez and Mudryk will represent Argentina and Ukraine, respectively.
The men's Olympic final is on August 9, just a week before the 2024-25 Premier League season kicks off, and Chelsea will be hoping Fernandes and Mudric are well rested after the major tournament and able to link up with new manager Enzo Maresca's squad.
Fernandez was named in Argentina's reserve squad for the Copa America despite missing Chelsea's final season through injury. The 23-year-old underwent groin surgery in April and one of the reasons Chelsea did not allow him to play for the Olympics was to rest him after playing most of last season through injury.
However, Chelsea's policy on Olympic participation for players is not universal and is decided on a case-by-case basis. Midfielder Leslie Ugochukwu, who only returned for the final two games of the season after missing five months with a hamstring injury, is in France's reserve squad and could be allowed to play. He was not selected for France's squad for this summer's Euros.
The men's Olympic football competition is made up of teams aged under 23 and can feature up to three over-age players, but Fernandes, Mudric and Ugochukwu do not count as over-age players because they were born after the January 1, 2001 cut-off date.
However, because the Olympics take place outside the official international football season, FIFA rules mean clubs are not obliged to release players for the tournament.
Going deeper
Does Enzo Maresca meet the seven criteria for a Chelsea ideal manager?
(Ryan Pearce/Getty Images)
