After the Copa America Centenario and the European Championships earlier this summer, there's one more major international tournament to take care of before the club season can begin. The Rio Olympics start in two weeks and that means it's time for some Olympic football as well!
With Rio hosting, Brazil are taking this one quite seriously (probably more so than their Copa appearance, given the fact that Neymar will play in the Olympics after skipping the earlier tournament) as are Argentina, no doubt (with the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Angel Correa in the mix). All in all, sixteen teams will participate, including Nigeria who will have the only Chelsea representative* in John Obi Mikel.
Mikel is one of the two allowed over-23 players in the squad, alongside veteran goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi. Chelsea prospect Kenneth Omeruo was included in the provisional squad but did not make the final cut of 18 plus 4 stand-by players.
The Olympic football tournament is set to end the same weekend as the start of the Premier League. Even if Mikel and Nigeria don't make it all the way to the end, he will be yet another player whose pre-season preparations will be affected.
Still, best of luck to him and the Super Eagles. Go for the gold, Mikel!
* Former Chelsea trainee Adam Gemili will be there, too, and will be hoping to bring home a medal in the 200m sprint, too.