Kylian Mbappé is missing from the French Olympic football squad while Thierry Henry announces the squad ahead of the matches in Paris

Thierry Henry has unveiled his France under-23 squad for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris and the hosts will be without Kylian Mbappe, who was left out of the player list released on Monday. The French superstar is expected to be announced as Real Madrid’s latest signing after securing the Spanish giants’ 15th UEFA Champions League win this weekend.

However, Mbappe appears to have fallen short in his quest to represent Les Bleus in back-to-back tournaments that include UEFA Euro 2024 and the Olympics this summer. The 25-year-old has been vocal about his desire to participate and French President Emmanuel Macron was involved in getting Real’s blessing for Mbappe’s involvement.

Henry admitted that it was difficult to put together a squad that could win the competition as the Olympics are outside FIFA’s jurisdiction and so clubs are not obliged to release players. ‘Real Madrid was very honest about the Olympic Games’ said the legendary former French international who selected Alexandre Lacazette from Olympique Lyonnais.

“The last time I got this many rejections was in college,” the Paramount+ analyst added. “There haven’t even been any negotiations. You go, you ask, they say no and you leave.” Ex-Arsenal striker Lacazette will be one of two Premier League stars eligible as overage, along with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Henry had originally hoped for Mbappe and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.

Elsewhere, Lille OSC have supplied three players in Lucas Chevalier, Leny Yoro and Bafode Diakite, while Stade Rennais have also supplied Adrien Truffert, Desire Doue and Arnaud Kalimuendo. Paris Saint-Germain duo Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola are in attendance, although the former may not captain the team as he does at under-21 level with the experienced Lacazette present.

Diakite, Kone and Thuram are all 23 years old, which is the maximum age before a player can be considered overage, and the last French Olympic squad featured Andre-Pierre Gignac, Florian Thauvin and Teji Savanier as the overage trio. A possible solution for the remaining overage slot available could be a player who misses out on the Euros, or a player who has fallen out of contention under Didier Deschamps but still fits Henry’s needs.

Aurelien Tchouameni is struggling with an injury and missed the Champions League final at Wembley. She is 24 and would therefore qualify as overage, although Real’s position on the Games is unlikely to change. There is also the possibility of a Savnier-like wildcard option that could emerge in the form of Stade Brestois 29’s Pierre Lees-Melou, who had interested Deschamps following his integral role in the Breton club’s sensational UCL qualification prior to the injury.

Complete Olympic team of France

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Guillaume Restes, Obed Nkambadio and Robin Risser.

Defenders: Bafode Diakite, Leny Yoro, Maxime Esteve, Bradley Locko, Castello Lukeba, Kiliann Sildillia and Adrien Truffert.

Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche, Joris Chotard, Desire Doue, Manu Kone, Khephren Thuram, Enzo Millot, Lesley Ugochukwu and Warren Zaire-Emery.

Attackers: Arnaud Kalimuendo, Alexandre Lacazette (excess), Bradley Barcola, Jean-Philippe Mateta (excess), Michael Olise and Mathys Tel.