Thierry Henry, the coach of the French U-21 team, has clarified his stance regarding the selection of Michael Olise, who holds multiple nationalities.
On June 3rd, Thierry Henry announced his preliminary list for the 2024 Paris Olympics, including Michael Olise, the winger from Crystal Palace (with 19 matches, 10 goals, and 6 assists this season despite a persistent hamstring injury early on).
This selection by the 1998 World Cup champion indicates a strong preference for Olise to play for France, despite earlier links to Algeria, his mother’s homeland, and previous interest from England to play in Euro 2024 currently underway in Germany.
“He wants to play for France”
During a press conference on Monday, Thierry Henry clarified any doubts about Olise’s choice, emphasizing that the versatile 22-year-old attacker, who can also play centrally, is committed to France. “Patrick Vieira (also a 1998 World Cup champion and former Crystal Palace coach) first mentioned him to me.
He said, ‘He’s not bad here (in the center),’ and he wants to play for France,” Henry revealed, dismissing any suggestion of a switch to Algeria. “There’s something I would like to emphasize (…) We know he has many options, that’s clear. But his desire to show that he wants to play for the French team, that needs to be emphasized. Because if he were English, he would have already joined the England team.” This statement firmly closes the door on Algeria, despite hopes lingering after the Olympics. It’s worth noting that Olise also had the option to represent Nigeria, his father’s homeland.
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