Incoming Rangers star Hamza Igamane has not been included in Morocco's Olympic squad because the Ibrox club won't release him, according to the team's manager.
And that means the new signing will get a full pre-season in with his new club.
Igamane has reportedly secured a work permit and is set to be officially unveiled after his £2 million move from Far Rabat in his homeland.
He was widely tipped to be named in Morocco's squad for the Olympic football tournament in Paris this summer, which would have led to him missing most of Rangers' pre-season and potentially the big Scottish Premiership kick off, with the tournament continuing until the middle of next month.
But Morocco Olympic boss Tarik Sektioui omitted Igamane from his final squad and revealed that he was one of nine players refused permission to compete in the tournament by their clubs in Europe.
Rangers reportedly joined the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven, Real Betis and Crystal Palace by declining to release their player for the Olympics - because it's not a requirement by FIFA.
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Sektioui said: "There have been nine players who have been refused to allow to play by their clubs.
"They are Hamza Igamane, Chadi Riad, Ismael Saibari, Ibrahim Diaz, Adam Aznou, Alaa Balarouche, Younes Taha, Anis Bakraoui and Ayoub Amraoui.
"We have been left exhausted by these European clubs who tried in every way to prevent the players from being in the squad.
"I can assure you, our Football Association was trying right up until last night to get players to the squad.
"Now we simply have to trust the players we have named. It is extremely disappointing for me and the players who will miss out though."
The Olympic Games take place outside an official window for international football and FIFA rules state clubs are not obliged to release players for the tournament.
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