Michael Olise, the talented Crystal Palace winger, has chosen to represent France at the international level, despite interest from England. Thierry Henry, the manager of France’s Olympic squad, has confirmed that Olise has made his decision to play for Les Bleus
Olise, who was born in London to a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, is eligible to play for four nations: France, England, Nigeria, and Algeria. He has represented France at the under-18 and under-21 levels and received a call-up for the Olympic Games
Although England manager Gareth Southgate expressed admiration for Olise and held talks with the player in 2022, neither he nor France’s Didier Deschamps included Olise in their respective squads for recent tournaments. This has allowed Olise to freely choose between France and England, with the latter being in a favorable position to secure his commitment.
However, Henry has emphasized that Olise’s commitment to the French national team is clear and that his preference is to play for France, despite not featuring in the recent Euros. As Olise’s potential move to Bayern Munich looms, his future at both the club and international levels appears to be taking shape.
Olise’s decision to represent France comes after an impressive season with Crystal Palace, where he has scored 10 goals and provided 5 assists in just 18 Premier League matches. His elegant style of play and cultured left foot have caught the eye of many, and he has been tipped for a move to a bigger club in the near future.