'If only he had Austrian roots' - Ralf Rangnick puzzled over omission of Olise from France's Euro squad

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Austria's opening game against France at the 2024 European Championship, manager Ralf Rangnick waxed lyrical about quad-national winger Michael Olise. 

London-born Olise is eligible to represent the national teams of France and Algeria through his mother, Nigeria through his father and his native England. 

Of the four countries the winger qualifies to turn out for, the Nigeria Football Federation made the first move to cap-tie him at senior level, handing him a call-up for a pair of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Republic of Benin and Lesotho, but the former Reading young sensation did not honour the invitation. 

Olise, who is now provisionally cap-tied to France, has not been picked in the Blues squad for the ongoing tournament in Germany but remains in contention to make his debut in the Olympics this summer. 

Ralf Rangnick was full of praise for the Nigerian Federation target and labeled the Chelsea-linked winger 'an exceptional player'. 

In quotes relayed by Bold,dk, Rangnick said: "He has never been selected for the French national team, but I love Michael Olise.

"If only he had Austrian roots. He is an exceptional player. He is fast, a strong dribbler, technically gifted and he works hard when he loses the ball.

"Every time I see him play, he has a smile on his face. I am not unhappy that Didier Deschamps has not selected him."

The Nigeria Football Federation and English Football Association have not given up on the pursuit of Olise and are hoping to convince him to switch his international allegiance. 

Nigeria won the recruitment battle for English-born Ola Aina, Joe Aribo, Nathan Tella, Ademola Lookman and  Semi Ajayi. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: cpfc.co.uk

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