Holland's Olympic football coach Foppe de Haan insists Liverpool winger Ryan Babel remains keen on playing in Beijing despite the concerns of his club coach Rafael Benitez.
Benitez is worried the 21-year-old's recovery from the ankle injury sustained on international duty in the build-up to Euro 2008 could be disrupted by his participation in China.
But De Haan reckons Babel, who resumed training with his club on Wednesday, is well on course to be fit for the Olympics and should be allowed to make up his own mind.
He told De Telegraaf: "Ryan is very at ease under the words of Benitez. Other Liverpool players are also going to Beijing, so why not him?
"In the past couple of days Ryan has been doing warm-ups at Liverpool with the rest of the group.
"For the rest he worked on an individual programme. He did a lot of walking, but he also worked with ball. That all went well.
"Ryan is very optimistic about his recovery and he wants to go with us to the Olympic Games very much."
More news from SportingLife.com
Comment 1 - 3 of 3
rafeal let him go so as to get ready to play in the league as a better player.
I think he should go but as Rafa as said it could cause him problems when he comes back, then the guy is aware of the consequences he will face (if he gets injured again).
It is his dream to play in the Olympics then he should fulfill his dream "but" he should also look deep into his heart and this of his team and there position, LFC are struggling on the wings for next season and this does not help them so Rafa is right to tell him his position in the starting 11 could be in jeaperdy.
PLS LET BABEL GO... HOLLAND BADLY MISSED THE LAD AT EURO
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account