May 21st 2024.
On Tuesday afternoon, French president Emmanuel Macron is set to host Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez for a special lunch at the Elysee to celebrate the 120th anniversary of FIFA. This event has been making headlines, with leading French sports daily L'Equipe reporting that Macron will use this opportunity to convince Perez to allow Kylian Mbappe to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The timing of this meeting is crucial, as it comes just a day after Mbappe's emotional farewell party at the Parisian restaurant, Gigi. The party was attended by Mbappe's family and friends, including his mother who was swarmed by reporters. When asked about her son's next destination, she cryptically replied, "I think you all know already."
The 2024 Paris Olympics hold significant importance for France, as it marks the return of the games to the 'City of Love' after a gap of a century. Macron has been vocal about the significance of this event and is likely hoping to showcase Mbappe, one of the most influential athletes in the country.
What makes this meeting even more intriguing is the fact that the Olympics are scheduled to take place at the end of July, which is also the time when Mbappe is expected to be in pre-season training with Real Madrid. This raises the question of whether Perez will allow Mbappe to participate in the Olympics, or prioritize his pre-season preparations with the Los Blancos.
It is no secret that Macron and Mbappe share a close relationship, with reports claiming that the French president played a crucial role in convincing the 25-year-old to stay at Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. In fact, there are even rumors that Macron was present at Mbappe's farewell party, although this has not been officially confirmed.
In his farewell message, Mbappe expressed his desire to leave PSG earlier this month, thanking the fans, the club, and everyone who has helped him on his journey to becoming the team's top scorer. In response, Macron posted a video on his X account, stating, "I have no particular comment to make other than the fact that I am counting on Real Madrid to free up Kylian for the Olympic Games so he can play with the French team." Only time will tell what Perez's decision will be and how it will impact Mbappe's future.
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