Folarin Balogun: The Big Interview
Back fit and in form after a goal against RC Strasbourg before the break, Folarin Balogun also found the net for the United States yesterday -- learn more about the forward in this interview and be sure to visit ASMonaco.com for the full piece.
Hello Folarin. To start, how are you feeling at the beginning of this season?
Physically, I feel really good. I had a great summer break and I came back to Monaco in top shape, so even though I had a minor injury during pre-season against Cercle Bruges, my feelings are really good.
How important has this training camp in England been for the team?
It’s really crucial for us, especially for the new players, so they can integrate more quickly and, above all, understand what the coach expects from them. Personally, it was also important for me to complete my first full pre-season training camp with AS Monaco, to feel even more comfortable within the team and with the coaching staff, and to ensure I’m physically ready. It’s even better to experience this all together, and of course the camp is a special and formative moment. We train hard, we run a lot, we do tough training sessions, but that helps us be ready for a long season, and also, it helps with team integration.
Folarin Balogun in his last 9 matches with USA 🇺🇸👀
⚽️ 3 goals
🅰️ 2 assists pic.twitter.com/077VOMRTVr— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 10, 2025
You’ve been in Monaco for two years now. We can see that you’re increasingly happy here; is that how you feel as well?
When I first arrived here, it took me some time to adjust during my first season, because it’s a unique place to play football and to live. Then, my second year started quite well, as I scored three goals in three matches, I think. Unfortunately, I then suffered a shoulder injury, so it was a difficult period for me. Despite that, since then I’ve felt much more comfortable in Monaco and with the team, and now I’m starting my third season.
Well, I still can’t speak French fluently, but I understand it much better now. It helps me feel more comfortable, for example, when we have lunch together as a team, because I can understand what we’re talking about and why everyone is laughing. These are small things, but they make me feel much better, and ultimately, that’s very important.
Do you think the team now has more strengths to compete successfully in all competitions?
Absolutely, and we understand the club’s philosophy at this level. The coach and the management encourage young talents to play, to have confidence in themselves, and to be courageous! But to achieve this, they wanted to add experience to the squad to find the right balance, and I think they’ve done an excellent job with the recruitment of these experienced players. We must congratulate Thiago (Scuro) and the staff for having managed to bring them in. Even within the dressing room, we have the feeling that we have a very strong group capable of being competitive and aiming for success this season. In any case, we want to perform at our best in every competition!
There’s one player you know very well who arrived last January, and that’s… Mika Biereth. What can you tell us about him?
That’s right, we met in the Arsenal youth academy. We already had a very good relationship back then, even though we’ve both gone our separate ways since then. Then he joined me at AS Monaco, where he had an amazing start and an incredible first half of the season, scoring a lot of goals! He helped the team a great deal and worked very hard.
Personally, I haven’t had many opportunities to play with him so far due to my injuries; only briefly at Saint-Étienne at the end of last season, so we haven’t had much time on the pitch together. But what’s certain is that Mika is someone I enjoy playing with, and we have a good connection. And I have no doubt that as we play together more, our understanding on the field will only improve.
Mika Biereth 😍❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/1CmlVcbe6Y
— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) July 4, 2025
Getting back to football, what are your goals this season?
For now, the most important thing for me is to be fit, to be on the pitch, and available for the team. Even though it shouldn’t take too long, that’s really my main goal! And once that’s achieved, I can think more about the number of goals I want to score. I’ve always done it this way since the beginning of my career: first, focus on the matches and our team performance, and then set personal goals. Every season I set myself something to achieve, although the most important thing is to stay fit and available above all else.
Finally, there’s a major event coming at the end of the season: the World Cup in the United States…
It’s true that it’s coming soon, but before that, it’s important to stay focused on my work every day. So I don’t want to think about it too much and let it distract me. I’m fully committed to AS Monaco right now, and I need to stay focused on what I have to do with my club. That’s my approach, and I think it’s the best way for me to have a chance of being called up. When the season is over and we’ve achieved our goals, it will be time to focus on the World Cup in my home country. But for now, what’s most important for me is what I’m doing here in Monaco!
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