Chelsea make decision over Enzo Fernandez’s Olympics participation | Football

The 23-year-old missed Chelsea’s last six Premier League games of the season after undergoing surgery on a long-standing groin issue but has been included in his nation’s squad for the Copa America.

Lionel Scaloni named his provisional 29-man squad on Monday and Fernandez made the cut, though he could be one of three players to drop out of the final squad if he does not prove his fitness over the coming weeks.

The world champions have two World Cup qualifiers early next month, against Ecuador and Guatemala, before kicking off their Copa America campaign against Canada on June 21.

Fernandez is also eligible to play at the Olympics, which follows straight after the Copa America, as he was under the age of 23 at the start of the season.

Clubs are under no obligation to release players for the tournament, but, according to widespread reports in Argentina, Chelsea have given Fernandez permission to take part.

It is a somewhat surprising decision, with the Copa America final taking place on July 14 and Argentina’s first group game at the Olympics kicking off just 10 days later against Morocco.

Moreover, if Argentina, who are taking the tournament very seriously, make it to the final, that match will be played on August 11 – exactly one week before the new Premier League season kicks off.

Argentina Under-23s boss Javier Mascherano is keen for as many of the nation’s top talents to be involved as possible and that makes Fernandez – the only still U23-eligible player from the World Cup-winning squad – a particularly important selection.

Asked about his possible involvement earlier this month, the Chelsea midfielder said: ‘I have the possibility of going and I would love to go to the Olympic Games. It is Chelsea’s decision, and I haven’t talked about it yet.’

Other players who are believed to have been granted approval to take part are Brighton’s Valentin Barco, Porto’s Alan Varela and Fiorentina forward Lucas Beltran.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is expected to be one of the three over-age players along with veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, while the final spot is a toss-up between Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

Speaking earlier this year, Martinez said of a possible Olympics call-up: ‘If there is one thing I am missing with the national team, it is winning the Olympics.’

Argentina have a proud history at the Olympics and won the tournament in consecutive Games in 2004 and 2008.

The likes of Roberto Ayala and Gabriel Heinze were the over-age players two decades ago, with Carlos Tevez, Javier Saviola and Mascherano himself also in the squad.

Four years later, the ex-Liverpool midfielder was one of the over-age players, along with Juan Roman Riquelme, while Pablo Zabaleta, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Messi were all part of an astonishingly talented squad.

This year, hosts France – who are coached by Thierry Henry – will also be sending a very strong team to this summer’s tournament in Paris and remain hopeful that Kylian Mbappe will be allowed to take part.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.