Argentine defender Martin Demichelis stated he will participate in the Beijing Olympic Games even if his Bayern Munich club of Germany does not give him permission.
Sports daily "Ole" reported on Friday that Demichelis said if his team does not authorize him to join Argentina's national soccer team for the Olympics he will not obey the order and will go anyway.
"Just like I told Checho (Argentina's soccer coach Sergio Batista), I will escape if they do not let me go," said Demichelis.
Demichelis, 27, is one of the three players over 23 years of age chosen by Batista to defend the gold medal Argentina won in Athens.
Demichelis said he talked to Bayern Muncih club's president Karl Heinze Rummenigge and "I told him I am grateful, satisfied and proud for having been called to represent my country."
"I am a professional soccer player and an athlete and how many athletes end their careers without participating in Olympic Games? God willing, not me," said Demichelis.
(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2008)