Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez will not be taking part in the Olympics this summer after Chelsea denied his requests. The 23-year-old would fit the age restrictions in the squad without using one of Argentina’s over-23 slots. Yet, at the risk of an injury, his club said he is not allowed to play in the competition. This summer, Fernandez will represent Argentina at the Copa America in the United States. He missed the last six games of Chelsea’s season as he required groin surgery.
Even though his recovery ended his Chelsea season prematurely, Fernandez is diving back into heavy action with the Copa America. He is part of Lionel Scaloni’s 29-player provisional squad for the tournament. Consequently, he is likely to have a major role in Argentina’s title defense, a title that he did not take part in back in 2021.
The risk of aggravating his growing injury, or sparking a new issue, is too big for Chelsea to risk. Gaston Edul of TyC Sports said the decision came down to Chelsea. Furthermore, Fernandez asked several times to play in the Olympics. According to the report, the midfielder actively wanted to participate because only three players over the age of 23 could partake. In other words, it is a rare opportunity for any soccer player. Regardless, Chelsea shot the idea down.
A rampant number of games is not a concern exclusive to Chelsea. Manchester United is in a similar position with Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine winger played 50 games in all competitions with United this season. He is on Lionel Scaloni’s Copa America squad. Finally, he is likely to be a major part of Javier Mascherano’s Olympic squad. Should Argentina find success in those games and he plays, Garnacho is looking at an additional 15 games in the summer with his national team. All those games massively increase the likelihood of injuries.
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Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-bars-enzo-fernandez-from-playing-at-olympics/
Author : Kyle Fansler
Publish date : 2024-06-04 18:18:07
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