Well-felt communication or deep sincerity? One thing is certain, if he wishes to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris (July 24-August 10), Kylian Mbappé, day after day, puts a little water in his wine regarding his position. In a long interview given to GQ, the star of the Blues and Paris SG inevitably mentioned a subject that goes far beyond his personal case. A competition which is not included in the FIFA calendar, the Olympics do not require clubs to release their players, even more so in a year where the biggest stars will compete in the Euro (June 14-July 14) the same summer. But the Olympics in France without Mbappé, the image sent back would be pathetic.

“I have reached a stage in my life and my career where I no longer want to force things,” says the captain of the France team. If they let me do them, I will go with great pleasure but if it is not possible I will understand.” In deep reflection on his personal future, with the end of his contract known to all with PSG next June, and Real Madrid or even Liverpool who are looking down on him, the current top scorer in Ligue 1 knows that his case is talk. His presence in Paris is desired by everyone, from the President of the Republic, to the Minister of Sports, to the president of the FFF Philippe Diallo, without forgetting Thierry Henry, the coach of the France Espoirs team.

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“For every athlete, the Olympics have a special place and I already wanted to go to Tokyo because I want to win everything and write my name in the history of the French team as that of a player who counted,” adds the principal interested party. Doubts about his presence remain, particularly linked to the position of his current or future employer, if he were to sign in Spain or England. Is Kylian Mbappé, who never says anything without having thought about it beforehand, already preparing the ground on this burning issue? Is he pressing a highly symbolic lever in his discussions with clubs? Nothing is done at random. One thing is certain, it’s difficult to imagine PSG banning him from participating in the Games taking place in the capital… For Real Madrid or Liverpool, it’s another story.

Questioned on the subject on November 17, before France-Gibraltar, Kylian Mbappé did not evade the question. “I always wanted to do the Olympics but it’s not me who decides, it’s my employer. It would be a pleasure to play them but my employer will have the last word. If my employer doesn’t want me to do them, I won’t do them. This is not a problem. But yes, I would like to do them. (…) I don’t think it will be a very long reflection. If it’s yes, it’s yes. If it’s no, it’s no. I want to play them. I think people want me to do them. It will get back to normal, but we are not safe from a bad surprise.”

Within the FFF, the presence of Mbappé in Paris is necessarily desired, suggested and above all assumed. Philippe Diallo, Didier Deschamps and Thierry Henry have already addressed the subject. Priority is given to the France A team, with the Euro, but the absence of the French football star in Paris would not be understood. By the world of football and especially political power, which follows this with great attention. All the actors dream of his presence. And also their credibility.

A French Olympic team without its greatest player would be catastrophic in terms of image. Not to mention the sporting aspect which is no longer up for discussion. “He is such a source of inspiration, of freshness, having him, as well as Antoine Griezmann, would be extraordinary,” repeats Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. The French Football Federation must manage this skillfully.” And above all that his future employer validates his presence.