Monaco’s sporting director Thiago Scuro believes the Ligue 1 membership is the proper place for Folarin Balogun to “attain the following stage”.
Balogun joined Monaco in a transfer probably price £34.4million in August, with Arsenal electing to money in on the US ahead.
Chatting with Stats Carry out on the Considering Soccer Summit in Porto, Scuro outlined his confidence that Balogun and Monaco would be the excellent match.
“He’s a younger and top-talented striker, who had a really robust season in Ligue 1 final season,” Scuro mentioned.
“So he’s totally tailored to the league, and [we are] totally assured about what he can do within the league. Now it’s our job to assist him attain the following stage in his profession, as he’s not too long ago a world for the US.
“He’s a younger participant with an Arsenal academy profile, which [means] he brings very, superb and powerful abilities with him.”
Balogun, who got here on from the bench to make his Monaco debut in a 3-0 win over Lens on Saturday, is ready to compete with Wissam Ben Yedder for a beginning spot.
“We’re excited to have him on board competing now with Ben Yedder, who’s a legend on the membership and the highest scorer,” Scuro added.
“Inner competitors is likely one of the ideas that I actually imagine [is key] for fulfillment.”
Balogun netted 21 objectives in 37 Ligue 1 appearances whereas on mortgage at Reims final season. Solely Kylian Mbappe (29), Alexandre Lacazette (27) and Jonathan David (24) scored extra occasions in France’s high flight.
FOLARIN BALOGUN IS RED AND WHITE pic.twitter.com/2MoxQXICNu
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) August 30, 2023
Monaco have loved a flying begin to the brand new season, successful three of their 4 Ligue 1 video games. No workforce in Europe’s high 5 leagues has scored extra objectives than the 13 managed by Adi Hutter’s aspect.
“I feel the enjoying thought and Adi Hutter’s enjoying type, which may be very offensive, very aggressive once we don’t have the ball, very aggressive when we now have the ball, and the gamers’ dedication to this, is, after all, additionally very key,” Scuro mentioned.
“Contemplating the standard of our gamers, we’re going to rating. The problem can also be that this mannequin additionally drives you to be very uncovered [defensively]. That’s why defending collectively and dealing arduous is necessary.”
Regardless of Monaco’s robust begin, Scuro just isn’t getting carried away.
“In fact, it’s good to start out in a superb place and in a superb place, as a result of it brings confidence and brings good vitality to the day by day routine,” he added.
“Nevertheless it’s solely the start. What issues in soccer is the way you end, not the way you begin. So we’re very completely happy to have a superb begin, however we additionally know that it’s an extended journey, with quite a bit to do, and we nonetheless have to enhance our efficiency in so many areas.
“That is our focus. It must be. Caring for the small print, which goes to make us stronger for the following stage.”
