GRAHAM Arnold said Harry Kewell's club situation was the reason behind the superstar's decision not to make himself available for the Olyroos – despite originally putting his hand up for a spot.
"Harry was right in the mix all the way, right up to the death," Arnold said today at the squad announcement.
"He said to me originally that he'd love to come and the message that we got through was that he didn't want to disrupt the team's preparation by him pulling out later on.
"Harry was disappointed he couldn't come, that he felt he couldn't commit 100% now to the Olympics and the fact that we had to name the squad five weeks out from our first game - he didn't want to have to pull out later.
"Harry's thought more first about the team than himself. He couldn't commit 100 percent because he's still in negotiations."
Kewell was reportedly signed a $9 million, three year deal with the Turkish giants who have a UEFA Champions League campaign starting in August.
Arnold added: "You've got to look at Galatasaray... it's not perfect timing.
"Obviously you've got to look at Harry's situation where he had quite a long time without a club so it's not easy for him to go as soon as he signs for a new club to ask for four weeks to go to the Olympics.
"I appreciated his honesty 100 percent. The quality of Harry Kewell is he'll always put the team first."
"He said to me originally that he'd love to come and the message that we got through was that he didn't want to disrupt the team's preparation by him pulling out later on.
"Harry was disappointed he couldn't come, that he felt he couldn't commit 100% now to the Olympics and the fact that we had to name the squad five weeks out from our first game - he didn't want to have to pull out later.
"Harry's thought more first about the team than himself. He couldn't commit 100 percent because he's still in negotiations."
Kewell was reportedly signed a $9 million, three year deal with the Turkish giants who have a UEFA Champions League campaign starting in August.
Arnold added: "You've got to look at Galatasaray... it's not perfect timing.
"Obviously you've got to look at Harry's situation where he had quite a long time without a club so it's not easy for him to go as soon as he signs for a new club to ask for four weeks to go to the Olympics.
"I appreciated his honesty 100 percent. The quality of Harry Kewell is he'll always put the team first."
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