USMNT star Balogun says Henry influenced his decision to join Monaco

The 22-year-old striker left Arsenal to join the Ligue 1 side in a reported €40 million deal

Folarin Balogun has said France legend Thierry Henry helped convince him to choose Monaco as his new club.

Balogun completed a transfer to the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday, joining in a reported €40 million move from Arsenal.

The U.S. national team striker starred on loan with Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 to send his transfer stock soaring.

Speaking at his introductory press conference on Thursday, Balogun said he had been in touch with Henry, who began his professional career with Monaco before eventually becoming a legendary figure at Arsenal.

“When I played against Monaco with Stade de Reims last season, he sent me a message to congratulate me on my goal,” Balogun said of Henry.

“He was just telling me about the the club, 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 step for me and the step I wanted to make.

“Yesterday, after my signature, he congratulated me again, I am very happy to have his encouragement.”

Unlike Henry, Balogun did not get the chance to establish himself as a regular during his time with the Gunners. The 22-year-old played just 10 games with Arsenal, and took in a loan spell at Middlesbrough before his time at Reims.

Balogun said that despite his lack of opportunities with his boyhood club, he left Arsenal without any hard feelings.

“As a young player, I want to play,” he said. “I want to prove what I’m capable of. What’s done is done. You don’t always get the opportunity. Sometimes that opens door to new opportunities. I am happy with the way things turned out. I wish Arsenal all the best for the season. We’re looking to achieve great things at Monaco this season.”

Balogun could make his debut for Monaco on Saturday in a league match against Lens.

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USMNT’s Balogun departs Arsenal, joins Monaco in €40m-plus transfer

It’s good bye Arsenal, bonjour Monaco for Balogun

U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun is heading back to France.

The 22-year-old has sealed a move to Monaco, with the Ligue 1 club confirming a permanent transfer for the (now former) Arsenal forward on Wednesday. Terms were not announced, but reports have valued the deal as somewhere north of €40 million.

A report from Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday said that Arsenal will maintain a sell-on clause for the USMNT man for nearly 20% of a future sale.

“I think it’s a fabulous move for him,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s familiar with the French league. He’s already performed at a really high level with a French team and now he’s going to a bigger club in the French league. I think it’s a really strong move.

“We expect him to be able to score goals, continue to score goals, like he’s done. Having met him and spoke to him, he’s a really humble guy who’s focused on the process and and continuing to improve, and he sees this as the next step for him on his way as he climbs the ladder in European soccer.”

Balogun’s return to Ligue 1 looks like very good news for him and the USMNT, and very bad news for teams in France not named AS Monaco, who overcame strong interest from Inter.

Last season, Arsenal sent Balogun out on loan to an unfancied Reims side due to a backlog of strikers in north London. Balogun responded with 22 goals in 39 appearances, including over 46% of the team’s 45 league goals. Balogun finished the season in fifth in the Ligue 1 goalscoring table.

Balogun won’t just walk into the team once he arrives at Stade Louis-II. Manager Adi Hütter has so far played out of a 3-4-2-1 formation this season, and Monaco’s lone striker has been its captain, Wissam Ben Yedder.

The 32-year-old has four goals in three games thus far in Monaco’s 2023-24 campaign, scoring at least once in all three of the club’s Ligue 1 matches. Furthermore, Monaco’s attack is firing on all cylinders at the moment, producing at least three goals in each of those games.

Ben Yedder can play underneath a striker as well. With Switzerland target man Breel Embolo going down with an ACL injury early in the club’s preseason, the big transfer fee is a clear statement that Monaco will be expecting Balogun to deliver the goods.

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‘Never easy to say goodbye’ – Balogun bids farewell to Reims ahead of Arsenal return

The striker scored 21 league goals during his loan in France

Folarin Balogun has bid farewell to Reims after a hugely successful loan spell at the Ligue 1 club.

The striker scored 21 league goals in 2022-23 during his loan from Arsenal, establishing himself as one of the top young forwards in Europe.

Balogun also set off an international tug-of-war over his services, which the U.S. national team won last month when the 21-year-old pledged his future to his birth country.

With his international future sorted, Balogun will now turn his attention toward his club situation. Should he stay at Arsenal, consistent minutes would by no means be guaranteed with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah already in the fold.

Balogun is reportedly eyeing a permanent move away this summer rather than another loan, with several clubs across Europe interested.

The prospect of staying at Reims, either through another loan or on a permanent deal, has never seemed to be a real option for Balogun, who made his departure official with a heartfelt message on social media.

“Never easy to say goodbye, but we’ve arrived at the inevitable destination,” he said.

“Last summer I had the opportunity to join and was welcomed with open arms from day one! The support I’ve received from you all throughout my loan spell has been incredible and heartwarming. I leave hoping I was able to repay the love, trust and belief you guys put in me.

“This will forever be an unforgettable chapter for me and my family. Thank you for everything! Balo.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtHpYCtNcNp/?hl=en

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Jesse Marsch reportedly in the mix at Monaco and Celtic

Marsch has been unemployed since leaving Leeds in February

If the U.S. men’s national team intends to make Jesse Marsch its new head coach, it may want to get moving.

As the European season comes to a close and teams begin to plan for 2023-24, Marsch has appeared on the radar of at least two big clubs.

Monaco has sacked Philippe Clement after a disappointing campaign in which the Ligue 1 club missed out on Europe entirely. According to multiple reports, Marsch is one of the top candidates to take over at Stade Louis II.

Meanwhile in Scotland, treble-winning Celtic is on the lookout for a new manager after Ange Postecoglou moved on to Tottenham. Marsch is among the top contenders to succeed the Australian, according to Sky Sports.

This presents something of a conundrum for U.S. Soccer, which is methodically conducting a search for its USMNT head coach.

Marsch is considered one of the top candidates for the job, which is now being filled by B.J. Callaghan — the second interim head coach the team has had in 2023.

Callaghan will be in charge for both of the USMNT’s summer tournaments, the Nations League and Gold Cup, which will see him in his position through July at least.

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker will oversee the coaching search and although he’s said the federation has already spoken to some candidates, he won’t even start his full-time role until August.

Should U.S. Soccer wait until the end of the summer, some names on its list will surely be unavailable. Marsch, who has been unemployed since leaving Leeds in February, looks like he could be one of them.

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Messi breaks Ronaldo’s goal record in Europe’s top five leagues as PSG wins Ligue 1

Messi made it 496 goals between Barca and PSG

It has to be said: Lionel Messi loves a big occasion.

Messi scored his 496th goal in a top five European league, pushing him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as the most prolific scorer in those leagues ever. The goal, in a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg, happened to be the one Paris Saint-Germain needed to assure themselves of yet another Ligue 1 trophy.

PSG, despite a season that has among other debacles has seen fans protesting at Neymar’s house and Messi being suspended, ended any potential for last-day drama by pushing four points clear of Lens, who beat Ajaccio 3-0 to keep the pressure on.

However, Lens’ hopes of a shock Ligue 1 triumph ended Saturday as Messi made more history. With PSG and Strasbourg deadlocked in the 59th minute, Kylian Mbappé feinted his way into an opening on the edge of the box, teeing up a sprinting Messi for an angled finish.

Messi’s 17th goal of the campaign allowed him to pass Ronaldo, who headed off to Saudi Arabia this winter with 495 goals scored in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. Messi, meanwhile, has piled his goals up in La Liga with Barcelona and now at PSG in Ligue 1.

PSG has now won Ligue 1 in nine of the last 11 seasons, with only Monaco (2016-17) and Lille (2020-21) able to interrupt their total dominance in France.

The goal may also be a farewell for Messi, who has been strongly linked with a move away from Paris. MLS commissioner Don Garber has openly admitted the league would be willing to change its rules to get Messi to sign with Inter Miami, and Barcelona would love to bring him back. That said, all indicators are pointing towards him following Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, presumably to break his goal record there and/or make unfathomable amounts of money.

Watch Messi’s record-breaking goal for PSG

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Kylian Mbappe wished Victor Wembanyama well on his way to San Antonio

The PSG striker is ready to share the stage with another French sports superstar

Kylian Mbappé is ready to share the stage with another French sports superstar.

Mbappé was in attendance on Tuesday as the much-hyped Victor Wembanyama played his final regular-season game with Paris-based side Boulogne-Levallois.

Wembanyama, 19, is widely considered the best basketball prospect since LeBron James came into the NBA 20 years ago. At 7-foot-4, Wembanyama is nearly impossible to guard with an unheard-of combination of skills for a player his size.

Mbappé arrived just before tipoff at Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan, watching on as Wembanyama scored 22 points in a 93-85 win against Paris Basketball.

Following the game, Mbappé and Wembanyama got a chance to connect before the NBA Draft lottery that would determine where Wembanyama will play next season.

Later on Tuesday night the San Antonio Spurs were the lucky team to win the rights to the first overall pick in next month’s draft, during which they are certain to select Wembanyama.

The Spurs are a fitting destination for the newest French basketball star. Tony Parker starred for the Spurs for 17 seasons, and became the first Frenchman to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Ligue 1 anti-homophobia campaign ruined by anti-anti-homophobia

This is one way to undermine your message of support

This past weekend in Ligue 1 was supposed to be a demonstration of unity against homophobia, but any goodwill toward the LGBTQ+ community was vaporized by a sudden onset of anti-anti-homophobia.

Ahead of Wednesday’s International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 teams donned rainbow numbers during matches, with coaches wearing rainbow armbands among other initiatives.

But there was pushback against the campaign from Toulouse FC, which saw several players excluded from Sunday’s game against Nantes over a refusal to wear the rainbow numbers.

“Some players of the professional squad have expressed their disagreement regarding the association of their image with the rainbow colors representing the LGBT movement,” Toulouse said in a statement Sunday.

“Although respecting the individual choices of its players, and after numerous exchanges, the Toulouse Football Club has chosen to exclude these players from the game,” the club added.

Toulouse FC did not name who was excluded, but Moroccan international Zakaria Aboukhlal confirmed he was one of the players who refused to take part in the match.

“First and foremost, I want to emphasize that I hold the highest regard for every individual regardless of their personal preferences, gender, religion or background. This is a principle that cannot be emphasized enough,” Aboukhlal said on Twitter.

“Respect is a value that I hold in great esteem. It extends to others, but it also encompasses respect for my own personal beliefs. Hence, I don’t believe I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign.”

Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed also said he refused to play in the match, with the club subsequently issuing the player a fine.

“I don’t want to argue at all but I have to state my position,” the Egypt international tweeted.

“I respect all differences. I respect all beliefs and convictions. This respect extends to others but also includes respect for my personal beliefs.

“Given my roots, my culture, the importance of my convictions and beliefs, it was not possible for me to participate in this campaign. I hope that my decision will be respected, as well as my wish not to argue about this and that everyone is treated with respect.”

Ligue 1 relegation race impacted

Toulouse and Nantes would draw Sunday’s match 1-1, which saw Nantes climb to within one point of safety with just three games remaining.

Eric Roy, whose Stade Brestois side is right in the thick of the relegation battle, expressed his dismay with the timing of the anti-homophobia campaign.

“The programming of this day against homophobia is catastrophic,” the head coach said after his side beat Auxerre on Sunday.

Brest’s French head coach Eric Roy looks on while wearing a rainbow colored LGBTQ+ armband during the French L1 football match between Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) and AJ Auxerre at Stade Francis-Le Ble in Brest, western France on May 14, 2023. (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER / AFP)

“You can see that there are players who have a problem with it. Everyone is free to express their opinions. Personally, I have no problem with it. But there are players who may have a problem with it.

“Then you should not schedule this campaign at that time when you know some players are fighting to avoid relegation. You could do it in December, September.”

We can, however, confirm that wins, draws and losses are worth the same amount of points in December and September as they are in May.

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Breaking: Lionel Messi to play soccer

Huge gamble from PSG in starting the best player ever

Lionel Messi’s suspension is over at Paris Saint-Germain, and no one is happier than the club itself.

PSG manager Christophe Galtier told reporters that Messi “will be a starter” for Saturday’s home match against Ajaccio. “I spoke with him on Tuesday to see what his mindset was and I found him very determined to play.”

Messi’s return comes a week early after he was initially suspended two weeks for an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, where he’s a paid spokesman for the country’s tourism board. Messi apologized, maintaining that he was under the impression the team had off, but in the meantime PSG defeated Troyes 3-1 without the Argentina star.

Despite notching a win without Messi — who seems all but certain to leave the club this summer — PSG is not quite over the line in terms of winning Ligue 1. Recent home losses to Lyon and Lorient have kept the door ever-so-slightly open for Lens, who trail the defending champions by six points with four matches still to play.

“He’s very eager to win that title,” Galtier said of Messi. “With him in the team, we’ll have to adjust compared to what we did against Troyes. Leo is Leo. I’m not going to go into statistics but when he’s with us, we have to strike a different balance.”

The latest in a strange season for Messi

Messi returning to the PSG starting 11 is not all that much of a surprise, given that he is Messi. However, the fact that Galtier felt compelled to announce it speaks to the strangeness at PSG in general, and in Messi’s life since finally winning his first World Cup last year.

Despite PSG being poised to win the league while carrying a long list of injured players, Messi was jeered at the Parc des Princes after that aforementioned loss to Lyon, and just a couple weeks later, fans called for him to leave the club outside PSG’s headquarters.

Meanwhile, the news outside of France seems only marginally better. On one hand, MLS and Barcelona are openly courting him, the Saudi Arabian offers to bring him there could end up being the most lucrative in sports history, and the adulation he receives in Argentina is at an all-time high…save for gunmen shooting up a grocery store owned by his relatives and leaving a threatening note specifically naming him.

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Lionel Messi apologizes for Lionel Messi’s Day Off in Saudi Arabia

The Argentine superstar said he thought he had the day off

Lionel Messi has released a statement of apology over an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia that has seen PSG suspend him for two weeks.

Following Sunday’s defeat to Lorient, Messi jetted off to the gulf state on Monday for a paid promotional trip.

PSG players are typically given the day off after games if they win, but the club trained on Monday after a poor performance in a 3-1 defeat to the mid-table side.

Absent from that training was Messi, which reportedly rubbed several PSG players the wrong way.

In a video posted on Instagram, Messi said that he believed he had the day off — though he also said the trip to Saudi Arabia couldn’t be cancelled after it had previously been postponed.

“I wanted to make this video after everything that’s going on. First of all, I apologize again to my teammates at the club. I honestly thought that we were going to have the day off after the game as we had done before,” Messi said.

“I had organized this trip to Saudi Arabia, which I had previously cancelled and I couldn’t go. Once again, I apologize for what I did. So here I am, waiting to see what the club wants to do, nothing more.”

Messi will miss PSG’s next two games, against Troyes on Sunday and against Ajaccio on May 13. He won’t be paid or train during that timeframe, and there has been speculation he may never play another game for the Ligue 1 side.

The 35-year-old’s contract will expire at the end of the season, and the World Cup-winner is widely expected to move on after two seasons in the French capital.

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PSG to fans: Don’t go to Neymar’s house to yell at him

Things are getting worse and worse at PSG

Things have gotten truly ugly at Paris Saint-Germain, with fans taking their ire at the club’s superstars to a new level this week.

Despite PSG being five points clear atop Ligue 1 and on course to win a fifth straight French title, the latest chapter involves supporters setting up protests outside of club headquarters and telling players to leave the team.

Possibly more than 100 fans joined that demonstration, chanting that players like Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti are no longer wanted. A subset of those fans took things even further, heading to Neymar’s house in the suburbs to chant “Neymar, get lost!” from just outside his gate. Neymar’s bemused neighbors captured the scene on video.

Neymar hasn’t even been available for PSG since early March, when he underwent ankle surgery that is expected to keep him out until sometime in June.

PSG on Thursday issued a club statement saying that it “most strongly condemns the intolerable and insulting actions of a small group of individuals that took place on Wednesday. Whatever the differences of opinion, nothing justifies such actions. The club gives its full support to its players, its staff and all those targeted by such shameful behavior.”

Sour times at PSG

The protests are just the latest in a long series of messes at PSG. Messi has already gotten a taste of how the club’s fans have turned on the squad, being relentlessly booed during a loss to Lyon last month. On Monday, Messi was suspended by the club for two weeks after jetting off to Saudi Arabia without getting club permission.

In April, head coach Christophe Galtier denied allegations of racism dating back to his time in charge at Nice, while the club disappointingly crashed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 in March. Just before that, defender Achraf Hakimi was investigated by police after being accused of rape.

Even basic soccer matters have gone wrong. PSG has been dealing with a lengthy list of injured players all season long, and three of the last four teams to visit the Parc des Princes have beaten their hosts. The club’s poor form has given Marseille — who haven’t lost since PSG beat them 3-0 in late February — a slight chance of completing an unthinkable comeback in the Ligue 1 standings.

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