Manchester City denies Nigeria request for Iheanacho participation in 2016 Olympics

Manchester City will not allow young striker Kelechi Iheanacho to play in the 2016 Olympic Games this summer in Rio de Janeiro, according to multiple reports in England. Iheanacho had been named by the Nigeria Federation as part of the 35-name provisional list, but the national team was quickly informed by City that the 18-year-old will not be allowed to travel to Rio.

According to sources, the club wants Iheanacho and all other members of the squad to spend the entire preseason with new coach Pep Guardiola, and with the Olympics starting in early August, Kelechi would leave the team just as the preparation would be reaching its peak close to the season opener. Guardiola will be in charge of a complete transformation of City's style of play, and club officials don't want anything to disrupt a big first month of training.

It is important to note that City are not breaking any rules by prohibiting Ihenacho's participation in the Olympics. No club is obligated to allow their players to be a part in the tournament, even if the players have been already called up by the national team, like in Iheanacho's case.

Guardiola is coming, and everybody should stay home to learn from him. Everybody.