Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has revealed that he will not take part in the 2016 Olympic Games as he instead wants to focus on his club career.
The 23-year-old was handed his second start for the Reds in the 5-0 thrashing of Fleetwood Town on Wednesday night, having joined from Mainz 05 in a £4.75m deal earlier this summer.
Karius, who was rated as the Bundesliga's second-best goalkeeper last time out, has opted not to represent Germany in Rio in a bid to oust established stopper Simon Mignolet for the No.1 shirt at Anfield next season.
"I spoke with the manager and we said that it doesn't make sense for me to go to the Olympics as I would miss the first two league games of the season and of course I want to play in them," The Telegraph quotes him as saying.
"We agreed together I wouldn't be going [to Rio]. First I spoke with Jurgen and then together we spoke with the German people who wanted me to go. The priority is the club. It's more important that I am available for the start of the season."
"I wouldn't come here just to sit on the bench. That doesn't make sense for me. I'm not a keeper who hasn't shown his ability. I know I am a good goalkeeper and I've shown that a lot. I could have stayed at Mainz and played there. If I wasn't sure I could come and play here this season, I wouldn't have done it."
Karius has previously spent time in English football with Manchester City as a 16-year-old, but was unable to break into the first-team fold and departed for the Bundesliga in 2011.
Daniel Lewis
