USA men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun has revealed why he left Arsenal for Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco.
The 22-year-old came up through the ranks at Arsenal but spent last season on loan at Reims in search of game time. He was impressive in Ligue 1, scoring 22 goals in all competitions, putting him on the radar of a number of clubs.
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After a protracted negotiation process and the player pushing for a move, Monaco finally reached an agreement with Arsenal for a reported €45 million guaranteed fee for Balogun, excluding bonuses. The player has now come out to explain the reason for his decision.
Why Balogun left Arsenal
Balogun, who has spent his entire football career at Arsenal save for loan moves at Middlesbrough and Reims, explains that he chose to leave Arsenal because he wanted to move away from his comfort zone.
“I believe that you get the best results in life when you’re not comfortable,” He said, per Goal.
"So that’s why I’ve taken myself out of my comfort zone, away from my family and friends, to improve as a player.
"I expect to produce here, and a lot of the pressure is internal. Obviously, the price tag brings expectations, but I’m not afraid of that.
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"There was competition at Arsenal, and I wouldn’t expect to come to another top club and not face competition. But for me, (Ben Yedder) is a legend, and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him and learning from him.”
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