Aaron Ramsey has assured fans he will put Wales before the possibility of playing at the Olympics.
Arsenal ace won't play for GB if it jeopardises national team status
Aaron Ramsey has assured fans he will put Wales before the possibility of representing Great Britain at the Olympics.
The Arsenal midfielder and Tottenham winger Gareth Bale have been pictured posing in the blue Team GB supporters' shirt, which has angered the authorities and fans alike.
The Football Association of Wales, and its Scottish and Irish counterparts, does not want its players to be selected for a 2012 GB team as it fears it may affect its standing as an independent football nation with Fifa.
However, the national associations would have no legal basis to prevent their players being involved in the London Games and Welsh supporters' groups have expressed their disapproval that their young stars are so far the only players who have been used to promote the shirt.
Captain Ramsey and Bale, who were named in Gary Speed's squad for next Saturday's friendly against Norway at Cardiff City Stadium, have spoken of their desire to be involved in coach Stuart Pearce's squad for 2012.
Relax
But Ramsey insists he would turn his back on the prospect of playing for GB if he felt it would be harmful to the Welsh national team's independent status.
The 20-year-old posted on his official
Twitter feed: "Relax everyone, there is absolutely no way I would play in the Olympic team if it was going to affect Wales' identity as an individual nation!"
Ramsey became Wales' youngest-ever skipper when he was named captain in March and is set to win his 20th cap against Norway.
Bale is seen as the nation's best player and his performances in the Champions League with Tottenham last season brought him to the attention of Europe's top clubs.
The 22-year-old is poised to make his 33rd international appearance in next week's friendly.
