At 22, Michael Olise has had a thunderous start to the season at the heart of the Bavarian winning machine led by Vincent Kompany.
He could opt for four national selections, Michael Olise finally opted for France. Or rather, it was the French recruiters who, from his first appearances among young people, came knocking on Michael Olise’s door. On May 27, 2019, the young man born in London to a Nigerian father and a Franco-Algerian mother, was called up to the U18 Tricolores to participate in the Toulon tournament.
Two months earlier, he made his appearance in the Championship in the colors of Reading FC against Leeds. He will start in the following match against Stoke City. Trained at Chelsea, Olise would receive the title of best youngster of the club that year. The following season, when several renowned clubs were knocking on his door, he remained at Reading and received the title of best young player in the Championship, the 2nd English division.
Don’t skip steps
Eyed in particular by Arsenal, it was ultimately Crystal Palace which attracted him with a five-year contract. A club from the English sub-top which allows him to flourish quietly. He entered the game at the end of the match on September 11, 2021 during the large victory over Tottenham before making his first start on September 23 during the draw against Newcastle. The following October 3, he opened his goal counter against Leicester (2-2) after going up at half-time.
On April 9, 2023, he achieved an unprecedented feat in the Premier League against Leeds (5-1 victory): delivering three assists from full play in the same match.
The following summer, it was announced that Olise would move to Chelsea. However, he ended up extending his contract at Palace. His season will be marked by a serious hamstring injury sustained in February against Brighton when he had just entered the game. He will be away from the field for more than two months.
Despite a serious injury, he leaves his mark
Despite this backlash, he still had time to attract attention to his performances and statistics: in just 19 appearances, he scored 10 goals and delivered 6 assists.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United want to attract the French nugget, but it is ultimately Vincent Kompany who convinces the leaders of Bayern to bring him. Olise signs a five-year contract there, for a transfer fee of 60 million euros, including bonuses. This summer, he was the club’s second incoming transfer. This shows its importance in the eyes of leaders. “Michael is fast, cunning, threatening and very versatile in attack,” summarized sporting director Christoph Freund. “Fans come to the stadium to see players like Michael Olise. »
JO, Bayern and France A
Coming into the game against Ulm in the German Cup, it only took him two minutes to deliver a first assist to Kingsley Coman. He actively participated in the Bavarian team’s incredible start to the season, scoring a first goal in the 6-1 victory against Kiel. In Champions Leaguefor his first appearance at the Allianz Arena, Olise planted two during the big 9-2 success against Dinamo Zagreb.
Before arriving at the Allianz Arena, Michael Olise will have been called by Thierry Henry to participate in the Olympic Games. France will win the silver medal. During the tournament, Michael Olise scored two goals and provided five assists. This will make Vincent Kompany say, upon the Frenchman’s arrival in Bavaria, that “for me, it was not so bad that he went to the Olympic tournament because he arrived in very good form at Bayern”.
Logical continuation of his good Olympics, Didier Deschamps calls him to selection A for the two matches of League of Nations against Italy and Belgium. On September 6, it was France’s 1-3 home defeat against the Azzuri.
In Bavaria, the Frenchman will only be able to flourish under the orders of Vincent Kompany who was able to observe his debut in the Premier League. On this point, Vincent was certainly not wrong. And the understanding between the two men can only improve the young French player.
