Balogun: Thierry Henry influenced my decision to join Monaco
Newly signed AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun has said that his decision to join the principality club - on a five-year, €30m deal - had its genesis in a conversation with a certain Monaco and France legend - Thierry Henry.
Speculation has been rife all summer as to where goal last season's goal sensation Balogun would land come the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. On loan from boyhood club Arsenal with Reims last season, Balogun burst onto the scene with a 21-goal haul that had big clubs from across Europe angling for his signature.
And now the deed is done: newly minted USMNT star Balogun has signed a five-year deal with the principality club worth a reported €30m, and Ligue 1 Uber Eats fans will once again have a chance to see the dynamic striker as he looks to push onto the next level.
Given that the likes of Arsenal's cross-city rivals Tottenham and Chelsea were interested in bagging Balogun, what was it that made the Anglo-Nigerian/American opt for a move to AS Monaco? Of course, the club's pedigree speaks for itself, but as it turns out, so did a certain Thierry Henry...
"I spoke to him before the games when I was young when I was maybe 14 he came to coach," recalled Balogun of his first interactions with the Arsenal legend. "When I played against Monaco last year I messaged him before the game and he was just telling me about the club and
the history he also said the city is very nice. That put the thought in my mind, and over time it became more clear that this is the next the next step for me and the step I wanted to make."
Evidently, Balogun has big shoes to fill - his own - as he looks to follow up on a magical breakout season, but he isn't putting too much pressure on himself.
"It was my first season in professional football last season," Balogun said. "Yeah it was a big season for me - I wanted to show people I can play professional football and I think I was able to do that and now this is my second season at a new club, so... A new challenge but I'm very happy and I'm sure that I can have another good season and that's my aim.
'The intensity is high' Did he have any qualms about continuing his career in France rather than in the EPL or one of Europe's other big leagues?
"I think Ligue 1 is very difficult because the intensity is high. It's very physical also. Maybe it's a bit underrated in the view of the public but there are many many good teams, sometimes teams that I didn't know of. We played against them and the game was very difficult," explained the 22-year-old, who clearly likes a challenge. "I like to impact games; this is what I judge myself on at the end of the season - how many games I was able to impact. And of course, I also want to entertain the crowds of people coming to watch. I want them to leave the game impressed and happy that they came."
He may not have turned out for Monaco yet, but there should be plenty of happy campers at the Stade Louis II this season as Balogun's star continues to rise - on the Riviera!
