Revealed: Arsenal & Chelsea blocked players from being called up for France Olympics squad as coach Thierry Henry reveals he had 'so many rejections'

The Olympic Football Tournament is not officially recognised by FIFA, giving clubs the authority to block the release of their players. Chelsea have notably withheld defensive duo Benoit Badiashile and Malo Gusto from joining the France squad. This decision aligns with the plans of Chelsea's new manager, Enzo Maresca, who is keen on utilising the pre-season to instil his tactical philosophy at the club's Cobham training ground.

Copa America-bound Enzo Fernandez, who recently underwent hernia surgery, was also expected to join Argentina’s Olympic squad. Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly open to Fernandez's inclusion, but Maresca has vetoed it, emphasising the need to manage the midfielder's recovery and fitness carefully to ensure a strong start to the new season. On the other hand, Chelsea's Lesley Ugochukwu has made the preliminary list. Ugochukwu, who missed most of the previous season due to hamstring issues, is eager to gain vital match experience through the Olympics. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Real Madrid have also refused to release William Saliba and Kylian Mbappe - with the duo slated to represent France at the upcoming European Championships in Germany.

Henry, tasked with trimming the preliminary squad before July 3, expressed his frustrations candidly. "Why didn’t I call Mbappé for the Olympics? The last time I received so many rejections was at the University,” he quipped.

“There have not even been negotiations. You go, you ask, they say no and you leave."

However, the former striker insisted that the Olympics was immensely important to him as a player.

"The Games at home are once every hundred years," he said. "I still remember that I cried when, in qualifying in November 1999, we were eliminated by Italy of Gattuso and Pirlo. I didn't shed a tear when I won the World Cup, but I cried not to make the Sydney Olympics. That shows how important this competition is to me."

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta have been included, though their participation remains uncertain as clubs can still object to their inclusion which will force Henry to leave them out when the final squad is submitted on July 3. Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, along with Paris Saint-Germain's Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola, who are also set to compete in Euro 2024, have been called up.

The proximity between the Olympic dates, July 24 to August 10, and the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season, potentially on August 17, is a significant factor influencing these decisions. The Olympics provide a unique platform for young players to showcase their talents on a global stage. However, the lack of formal FIFA recognition complicates the participation of top players, as clubs prioritise their commitments.