AS Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro has defended the club’s handling of the failed deadline-day moves involving Lamine Camara and Folarin Balogun, insisting he acted in Monaco’s interests as both transfers fell through in the closing minutes of Europe’s main football transfer window.
The window ended on Tuesday, 1 September, with Senegal midfielder Camara expected to join Chelsea and American forward Balogun in line to move to Everton. Neither deal was completed, leaving Monaco facing scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the two negotiations.
Camara had been identified by Chelsea as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who moved from Chelsea to Manchester City for a record £125m. The midfielder’s proposed switch to Stamford Bridge appeared to be progressing towards completion before Monaco maintained that Camara had already agreed to remain with the club.
That position ultimately prevented the transfer from being finalised, despite Camara having been expected to join the Premier League side before the window closed.
Balogun’s proposed move was also linked to a replacement deal. Everton were attempting to sign the Monaco forward after allowing Beto to leave for Italian Serie A club Fiorentina.
However, Balogun did not complete his transfer to Everton. Monaco’s decision-making in relation to both players has since attracted intense criticism, with the club’s conduct questioned after the late collapse of the negotiations.
Scuro has rejected the suggestion that Monaco acted improperly. He said his decisions were made with the club’s interests in mind and offered an explanation for the events that unfolded during the final stages of the transfer window.
The sporting director placed particular emphasis on Balogun’s change of heart over the move to Everton. Although the forward had been expected to leave Monaco, his decision not to join the Toffees was a significant factor in the deal failing to go through.
The separate situations involving Camara and Balogun left Monaco with both players after the window had closed, despite each having been heavily linked with a move to an English Premier League club.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Camara had been tied to the departure of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City, while Everton’s interest in Balogun followed Beto’s move to Fiorentina. With both replacement deals falling apart in the final minutes, attention turned to Monaco’s role in the negotiations.
Scuro’s comments represent the club’s response to the controversy. Rather than accepting responsibility for mishandling the transfers, he argued that Monaco’s actions were intended to protect the club’s position, particularly in the case of Camara, while Balogun’s decision to reconsider the Everton move complicated the second deal.
