AC Milan have been dealt a blow in their preseason preparation plans as Franck Kessie will be forced to miss virtually all of it.
According to Calciomercato.com, Kessie will skip practically all the preseason preparation because he will be called up by the Ivory Coast for the Tokyo Olympics, which will start on 22 July if all goes to plan. The Ivorians have been drawn in Group D together with Germany, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
Kessie will take the field on 22 July against Saudi Arabia, on 25 July against Brazil and on 28 July against Germany and if they were to get through that group, then the the quarter-finals will start on 31 July. At best Kessie will finish his Olympic commitments at the end of July, and at worst he will be back in Italy on 7 August with Serie A starting on the 22 August.
It is of course a source of great pride for Kessie, but a great problem for Milan who will not have their President there when the foundations for the season are laid. As for his renewal, it seems unlikely great progress will be made while the 24-year-old is in Japan.
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