Friday, April 23, 2021 at 10:39 AM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 10:47

Mexico hopes to have Edson Álvarez at its disposal during the Olympic Games. Gerardo Torrado, the sports director of the Mexican Football Association, is hopeful about the midfielder’s participation after talks with Ajax. In an interview with TV Azteca tells trainer Jaime Lozano that he hopes to be able to use Diego Lainez from Real Betis and Álvarez from Ajax and that he is also considering calling up Javier Hernández for the Mexico Under-23.

“Gerardo Torrado has already spoken to the clubs and it looks good,” assures Lozano. “It has not been confirmed one hundred percent yet, but it seems that the clubs want to relinquish them and that they can participate in the Games. I have to repeat that it is not yet certain, but the chances are that all the players who have the right of age, to be able to join us. ” Lainez and Álvarez are 20 and 23 years old respectively and do not need dispensation to participate. That does apply to the 32-year-old Hernández from LA Galaxy.

Chicharito scored twice on Sunday-evening during the season overture won against Inter Miami (2-3). The striker struggled with injuries last season and used his free time to become physically stronger through personal training. “He has prepared well and is who he always was again: a good goal scorer, a star. This is the result. We have about a month to compile the list and you have to Chicharito always follow, of course, because he is an exceptional leader and has experience. “

Mexico plays at the Olympics against Japan, South Africa and France in the group stage. The tournament will be played in Tokyo between July 21 and August 7. The Gold Cup will also take place between 10 July and 1 August and for that reason Lozano and Gerardo Martino, respectively the national coaches of the Mexico Under-23 and the national A-team, are ‘constantly’ in contact with each other to discuss the possibilities.

Neymar
Brazil hopes to convince Neymar to participate in the Games. The attacker of Paris Saint-Germain, who also played with the Olympic team in 2016, will first play with the A-selection at the Copa América from June 13 to July 11. A week and a half later, the Games start, on which Brazil will play against Germany, Saudi Arabia and Ivory Coast. National coach André Jardine hopes that Neymar will be one of the three ‘dispensation players’ over 23 years old. “We want to have the strongest possible team. Neymar would be our most important player.”