Arsenal will block William Saliba from representing France at this summer’s Olympic Games.
The Gunners centre-half enjoyed a standout season for Mikel Arteta’s side who narrowly missed out on a first league tile in 20 years.
Despite his outstanding displays, Saliba, who played every minutes of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, is unlikely to play a prominent role for France at this summer’s European championships.
Didier Deschamps has a vast array of central defensive options and earlier this year hinted there were aspects of Saliba’s game he did not approve of.
He said: ‘He is having a good season, but he also does things that I don’t like so much,’ explained Deschamps at his pre-match press conference on Monday.
‘For France, he has limited game time, but when he plays, that hasn’t necessarily gone well.
‘The hierarchy doesn’t favour him at the moment, but he is here. Dayot Upamecano has had game time and perhaps William has had less.
‘With certain players, I make sure to persevere, because it can be confidence or little blockages that can shift.
‘Some don’t have any concerns, some need game time. William has had less game time, so that doesn’t allow him to be very calm.’
At 23 years of age, Saliba is still eligible to feature at the Paris Games where France coach, Thierry Henry, wants to pick as strong a squad as possible.
The Olympics begins on July 24 with the final scheduled to take place on August 9, just a week before the new Premier League campaign kicks off.
According to Le Parisien, Arsenal would be unwilling to release Saliba, even if he plays a bit-part role for France at the Euros.
Henry is also anticipating difficulty in terms of persuading Real Madrid to part company, temporarily, with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga.
‘We know very well that Real Madrid is an institution but once again, one must stay in one place and try to send an email to see if we can have a meeting,’ Henry told RMC recently.
‘If ever there is a meeting, we will try to plead our case. If the no stays as a no, I don’t have the cards in my hand to try and get something.’
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