AS Monaco has confirmed that midfielder Maghnes Akliouche will not be joining France’s U-21 squad for the upcoming UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, which takes place from June 11 to 28.
The decision to prevent the 23-year-old attacking midfielder from participating in the tournament was made by the Monaco club, according to L’Équipe.
While the choice is not related to any injury or tactical decision from the French national team’s coach, Gérald Baticle, Monaco has exercised its right to retain Akliouche for the duration of the competition.
As the tournament does not fall within official FIFA international dates, clubs are not obligated to release players, and Monaco has opted to keep the player with the team.
This development is a significant blow to coach Gérald Baticle, who is preparing to announce his first official squad for a major international tournament since taking charge of the French U-21 team.
The squad, expected to be made up of around 25 or 26 players, will be revealed this Wednesday afternoon. Akliouche, who has long been regarded as one of the promising talents in French football, had been a key figure in the U-21 setup and had been tipped to play a vital role in the upcoming tournament.
Akliouche’s exclusion from the squad is particularly notable as he had been a potential candidate for promotion to the senior France team in the past. His technical skill, including his dribbling and playmaking abilities, had earned him considerable attention.
However, with Monaco’s veto in place, the midfielder will now have to watch the competition from the sidelines, at home, as he remains in the Principality.
The French U-21 team’s preparations have also been affected by other notable absences, including that of Rayan Cherki, who has been in the spotlight for a potential move to the senior national team.
Cherki’s progression into the senior squad, which could happen soon, would open a place in the U-21s, but it appears that Akliouche’s name will not be added to that roster either.
Despite missing out on the Euro U-21s, Akliouche remains a player in demand. His performances for Monaco have drawn attention from top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, which is reportedly interested in acquiring the midfielder.
With his future potentially up in the air, Akliouche’s agent is likely to be busy in the coming weeks, managing offers as the player continues to develop and shine in Ligue 1.
For coach Baticle, who is in the process of assembling a competitive squad for the European tournament, the absence of key players like Akliouche and Cherki is a setback.
However, with the tournament just around the corner, Baticle will now need to adjust his plans and focus on selecting players who can step up and perform at the highest level in Slovakia.
As Monaco and the French national team look ahead to their respective goals, the decision regarding Akliouche is yet another reminder of the complexities and challenges that clubs and national teams face when balancing player commitments across domestic and international competitions.
