Arnaud Kalimuendo is one of the most exciting young strikers in France and he is just one of 10 players in Ligue 1 to hit
double figures in the league this season. He also has a very good chance to be the striker who leads the line for the French
men’s team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, an Olympics that will take place in his home city. Kalimuendo talks about that in an exclusive interview.
The percentage of young children who make it to the very top level and get to play as a professional footballer is pretty low, as we all know.
But the odds of making it as a pro and then getting to play in an Olympic Games in your home city? Now that’s pretty rare.
Born in Suresnes, a suburb in western Paris, Kalimuendo has the chance to represent his nation in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, having been a part of some of the youth squads in the build-up to the tournament.
Speaking exclusively to Eurosport France’s Martin Mosnier for TNT Sports, Kalimuendo was asked about the upcoming Games.
“I won’t say the most important thing,” Kalimuendo said. “But as athletes, we’ve all dreamt of taking part in competitions like this.
“But, today, I belong to a club and we’ll see what happens. I’ll respect the club’s decision. As a player, it’s a wonderful competition to play in, especially in Paris for someone from the suburbs. It would be fantastic to be able to play in the Olympics, but we’ll see…
“At the moment, I’m really focused on Stade Rennais and what I have to do, it’s taking up so much of my head… I think about it every day. After that, we’ll see. Everything in its own time, but right now it’s Stade Rennais that comes first.”
