Leeds United to block Junior Firpo from competing at Paris Olympics
Leeds United will block Junior Firpo from representing the Dominican Republic at the Paris Olympics this summer, according to Beren Cross.
Writing on the Leeds Live website (11 July), the journalist reports that the full-back will not be allowed to play in the tournament despite being called up to the squad.
Clubs are not obliged to release players as the Olympic Games are not a FIFA tournament, and Firpo is the latest player to be denied the chance to represent his nation after Mateo Joseph was denied a chance to be part of the Spain squad [Joe Donnohue, 17 June].
Junior Firpo to stay at Leeds United for 2024/25 season?
Firpo re-established himself as the first-choice left-back at Elland Road last season after a torrid few years at the club, but he is now entering the final 12 months of his contract.
The expectation was that the 27-year-old would be moved on this summer [Phil Hay, 12 March] with Daniel Farke looking to rebuild and push for Premier League promotion once again, but that may have changed now.
Firpo returned to pre-season training earlier than anticipated despite representing his country in the summer and looks set to compete for the first-choice left-back spot with Sam Byram once again.
With the club not allowing him to play at the Olympics, they’re clearly banking on him being available for them in pre-season and at the start of the new season.
That suggests a change of heart and it’s possible now that he could be set for a new contract if the club have made the decision that they want to keep him around.
In other Leeds news, Graham Smyth has dropped an “urgent” transfer update for Elland Road.
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