Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has handed Arne Slot a fresh headache and fresh pre-season disruption.
Wataru Endo has expressed his desire to represent Japan at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The Liverpool midfielder has already competed in the men’s football tournament twice. He captained Japan in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and was selected as an overage player for the Tokyo Games in 2021.
In Rio, Endo played all three group-stage matches, but the team was eliminated early. In Tokyo, he was a constant presence, helping Japan reach the semi-finals, where they lost 1-0 in extra time to Spain.
They then narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing to Mexico in the third-place play-off.
The upcoming Olympic Games will be held in Paris, with the men’s football tournament scheduled from July 24 to August 9.
Teams must submit their squads by July 3. Players selected will miss most of the pre-season, though clubs are not required to release them.
Endo has expressed his desire to represent Japan in Paris, which would leave Liverpool facing a tough decision if he is selected.
“I’m also kind of wondering what will happen,” he told ABEMA Sports Time. “Nothing has been decided yet.
“But my stance is that if I’m selected, I’d like to go.”
Meanwhile, Egypt have confirmed their intention to call up Mohamed Salah for the tournament.
In June, head coach Ruggero Micali shared with winwin.com: “We have 10 names under consideration, and we will choose three players from them.”
“We have some shortcomings that need to be taken into account in the final selection. Negotiations with foreign clubs are lengthy to allow their players to join us at the Olympics, and we hope that those selected will get approval from their clubs.
“We are still awaiting the outcome of communication with Salah and his club Liverpool through the Egyptian Football Association. We definitely want him with us. I wish Salah could play with us at the Olympics.
“As I said earlier, it is always good for a player to be involved, we do not interfere in players’ clubs about whether or not they are in the squad, our job is to determine who can help us, and obviously if many of them do not play, they may arrive at matches without fitness, and this is not good.”
Liverpool might also have Stefan Bajcetic and Alexis Mac Allister called up for the Olympics, although Ibrahima Konate is not in the confirmed France squad.
Whether the 19-year-old Bajcetic will be considered remains uncertain, given his injury-plagued last 18 months and only a single cap for Spain Under-21s so far.
Meanwhile, Mac Allister’s participation in the Copa America will likely exempt him from further international duty this summer.
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