Top club players at the Olympics

May 29, 2008

Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung has been called up to represent Korea Republic in Beijing. Although the midfielder is 27 years of age, over the U-23 age limit of the Olympics, he will be one of Korea’s three allowed “over-age” players. If Park himself agrees to play, and if Sir Alex and Manchester United allow it, he will appear in the Olympic games this August.

Title-holders Argentina looks to feature young stars including U-20 World Cup winners Sergio “Kún” Agüero of Atlético Madrid and Éver Banega of Valencia. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has recently stated that he wishes to play in this summer’s Olympic games, despite having not yet asked his club for permission.

“It is up to me to decide and the Olympic Games are something I will never be able to play in again. I am very excited at the prospect,”Messi said in a news conference last Thursday.

“We don’t know who we are going to be playing yet (in the qualifier) but Barcelona don’t depend only on me to win games. I think the club and the fans will understand,”

Hopefully, Messi will have more luck than Kaká. The Brasilian midfielder was set to represent Brasil this summer; AC Milan, however, will not allow it.

“I did everything I possibly could so that I could play at the Olympics,” Kaká said. “I made myself available. However, AC Milan have decided otherwise, and I have accepted it.”

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