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Correspondent Julian Lawrence
Amid controversy over a move to Real Madrid, French forward Kylian Mbappé said on Friday he remains hopeful of taking part in this summer's Paris Olympics and that no one has yet told him he cannot.
Mbappe is expected to join Madrid when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer, with ESPN reporting last month that the La Liga giants were hoping to reach an agreement with the player soon.
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ESPN revealed that Real Madrid sent an email to the French Football Federation earlier this month informing them that they would not send any players to the Olympics.
“I always had the same ambition. I always said I wanted to go.” [to the Olympics] But it's not up to me,'' Mbappe said at a press conference ahead of Saturday's friendly between France and Germany.
“I can't say anything because no one told me anything. If I can't go to the Olympics, so be it… When I say no one told me anything, I'm talking about PSG. “I have a contract with PSG.'' PSG, they haven't said anything. [about the Olympics]. We haven’t discussed it,” he added.
The France captain declined to discuss the club's future, but said he was hopeful of a solution by the summer.
“I haven't announced anything yet because I don't have anything to announce…I'm sorry, but I have nothing to say,” he said, before adding: “I think everything will be resolved by the euro.”
The Paris-based player did not mention Real Madrid at his press conference, but a source told ESPN that negotiations between Mbappé's camp and La Liga leaders are ongoing. The source added that Mbappé wants more than the 50/50 deal that Real Madrid always gives its players, and that player image rights remain a key point of discussion.
The Olympic soccer tournament, to be held from July 24 to August 9, is an under-23 competition, with three overage players allowed on each roster. However, as the competition is not part of the FIFA calendar, clubs are not required to release players to represent their country.
This is in contrast to the European Championship, which will also be held this summer (June 14-July 14), and clubs will be obliged to release players.
Earlier this week, France was placed in the same group as the United States for the men's Olympic tournament.
