Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Loïc Badé replaces Maxime Estève in Thierry Henry's group

Loïc Badé est le troisième joueur hors catégorie d’âge à être appelé. EFE – Julio Muñoz

L’ex-défenseur montpelliérain a été bloqué par son club de Burnley obligeant le sélectionneur à appeler un autre joueur, lundi 17 juin.

The defender of Sevilla FC, Loïc Badé, 24, replaces Maxime Estève, the former Montpellier player, blocked by his English club Burnley, in the U23 selection of Thierry Henry who is preparing the Olympic Games tournament (24&nbsp ;July-August 9) announced the FFF on Monday.

"The U23 coach Thierry Henry, faced with the unavailability of Maxime Estève, chose to call Loïc Badé as reinforcement. The central defender of Sevilla FC will join the group at CNF Clairefontaine this Wednesday June 19 at the end of the day, explains the French Football Federation in a press release.

In addition to the attackers Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta already in the group, Thierry Henry holds, with Badé, the third player outside the age category that he has the right to have. rsquo;call into your group reserved otherwise for players under 23.

A cascade of refusals

Sunday, the French coach, already faced with a cascade of refusals from clubs to release their players for the Olympic Games – the football tournament not being included in the FIFA dates, they do not have the obligation to do so-, had learned that Maxime Estève, initially retained in the group, would not would not be released by his club Burnley demoted from the Premier League to the Championship this season.

Executive of the French junior team, present at the European championship in the category last summer in Romania, Loïc Badé, trained at Paris FC, at  Havre and Lens, experienced several failures in clubs, before stabilizing for two seasons in Seville, recruited by Monchi, famous sports director of the Andalusian club.