Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo will feature fully in Liverpool’s pre-season schedule as both will not be travelling to the 2024 Olympics with their countries.
Egypt and Japan have discussed including the Liverpool duo in their three-man over-age squad for the Under-23 tournament in Paris from July 24 to August 10. However, as the Olympics is not a FIFA-sanctioned tournament, clubs are not obliged to release players and following negotiations the pair will remain on Merseyside.
Stefan Bajcetic is another case that will not attend the Olympics with Spain U23, because this young midfielder needs a really careful preparation period before the season to help him regain his best form and fitness after missing most of last season due to injury.
Endo and Bajcetic both won’t be attending the Olympics with Japan and Spain
Not losing a single player to the Paris Olympics is good news for new head coach Arne Slot, in the context that he will have to try to convey his tactics and playing style to the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp.
Both Salah and Endo will join Liverpool on their pre-season tour of the United States later this month. The Reds fly to Pittsburgh on July 23 and face Real Betis in their first friendly three days later. They begin their 2024/25 Premier League campaign against newly promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday, August 17.
