Madrid fears players burnout from participation inCopa, Euro, and Olympics but France says they are outdated

‘Los Blancos’ currently has fourteen players from the first team squad away on international duty during the first FIFA international window of 2024.

The first international window has seen most of Real Madrid’s first team squad be called away for international duty with their respective nations with two major tournaments looming this summer in the shape of Euro 2024 and the 2024 Copa America.

The Santiago Bernabeu club are now plotting the next pre-season in the knowledge that many of the players will still be involved in the action with the Euros which are held from June 14 to July 14 and the Copa América running from June 21 to July 15 or enjoying a well-earned break after the demands of the 2023-34 campaign. Real Madrid are expected to embark on a brief East Coast American tour in July with games planned in New Jersey and Boston and, likely, the games will not feature some of the big-name regular stars.

Toni Kroos announced a return to the international game and the midfielder is one of fourteen players currently on international duty with Germany hosting this summer’s European Championships.

Carvajal and Joselu (Spain); Camavinga and Tchouameni (France); Kroos and Rüdiger (Germany); Modric (Croatia); Jude Bellingham (England); Güler (Türkiye); Lunin (Ukraine); Brahim (making his Morocco debut); Valverde (Uruguay) and the Brazilians Vinicius and Rodrygo are the implicated players with Lunin set to be involved in the highest profile game as Ukraine compete in the playoff for one of the final three places available at Euro 24.

Madrid could have had seventeen players absent had Alaba, Courtois, and Militao been fit with the trio regulars with their respective national teams of Germany, Belgium, and Brazil.

Only nine players remain in Madrid (including the three mentioned long-term injuries): Kepa, Nacho, Fran García, Mendy, Ceballos, and Lucas Vázquez.

Carlo Ancelotti will take training on Tuesday in Valdebebas with many Castilla players expected to complement the group and the Italian will be crossing his fingers in the hope that all fourteen players emerge from the international break with no new injury concerns as the club face a crucial stretch of games in April.

Meanwhile, France coach Didier Deschamps speaking to the media ahead of 2018 World Cup winners’ March friendlies against Germany and Chile, was asked about Real Madrid’s refusal to allow their players to play in the Olympic Games, which he described as “outdated”.

The topic has come into focus recently given Kylian Mbappé's much-rumoured move to Spain and apparent desire to be involved in the 2024 Games in Paris.

France coach Deschamps: “Businesspeople” decide who plays in the Olympics

“You should ask (Olympics team manager) Thierry Henry that. Real Madrid’s stance on the Olympic Games is a bit outdated. But businesspeople are the ones who decide. If it’s not on an official FIFA date if they say ‘no,’ the answer is ‘no,” Deschamps admitted.

As reported by French newspaper L’Équipe last week, Real Madrid sent an email to the French Football Federation (FFF) in which it notified them of their refusal to release first-team players for the 2024 Olympics, which will be held in Paris. As Deschamps stated, Los Blancos highlighted they were under no obligation to allow the likes of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and, potentially, Mbappé, to feature.

The France boss also discussed Mbappé's recent lack of game time, although the national team captain did play 90 minutes and score a hat-trick for PSG in the 6-2 win over Montpellier on Sunday.