Mohammed Salisu back in vogue at Monaco
Mohammed Salisu finished last season "disappointed", but he has quickly established himself as one of Sébastien Pocognoli's key performers at Monaco this season.
Salisu's future in the balance
Salisu was not such a key figure under Adi Hutter last season. The Ghana international played just 24 games in all competitions, and made just 11 starts in Ligue 1 McDonald's, as the Principality club finished on the podium for the second consecutive season.
It was only natural that Salisu was questioning his future at the club. Whilst praising the centre-back's "mindset", Monaco's CEO, Thiago Scuro, did nonetheless admit that it hadn't been an easy campaign for Salisu.
"I spoke a lot with him. He did a very good job in terms of mindset and behaviour. He is a player who is used to playing [...] he finished the season disappointed. That is normal. Now it is about finding the mindset to come back and compete," said Scuro in a post-season press conference.
But even by the start of the season, Salisu's future still looked uncertain. As the end of the transfer window approached, he was one of three players, including Breel Embolo and Eliesse Ben Seghir, who could have departed. Of course, Embolo and Ben Seghir did leave, but Salisu would ultimately remain.
🇬🇭 Goal for Ghana
🇲🇨 Goal for Monaco
A scoring season so far for Mohammed Salisu 👏 pic.twitter.com/MJKNpOWMhl— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 25, 2025
The defender did not feature in the first two matchday squads of the Ligue 1 McDonald's season and it wasn't until Les Monégasques' fourth league game of the season, a 2-1 win over Auxerre, that he would make his first appearance.
However, he would continue to drop in and out before becoming a regular since Pocognoli's arrival in October. A benefactor of injuries to the likes of Eric Dier and Christian Mawissa, Salisu is also in this team on merit.
His performance in Monaco's 1-0 win over PSG on Saturday proved as much. The defender was key in both boxes, making key interceptions, winning key duels, such as the one with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and threatening Lucas Chevalier in the PSG goal.
Salisu praised for his "conviction"
He went close with a half-volley early in the game, before hitting the post, and then even putting the ball in the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled out due to the involvement of Jordan Teze, stood in an offside position.
His prowess in the air has made him the primary target for Monaco's set-pieces, cementing his importance under Pocognoli. Post-match, the Belgian was full of praise for Salisu.
"Sali' has done very good things since I arrived here. He has fit in to what I am trying to instil and is vocal," began the Monaco manager. "Yes, he has small moments where he makes errors, but I prefer that, to see some errors but with the conviction to give everything than the opposite. Today (against PSG) he had a good match [...] I am very happy for him."
With the likes of Dier and Mawissa to return, they may find that they have to work hard to displace Salisu, now a key pillar on Le Rocher.
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>> Monaco end losing run in Ligue 1 McDonald's with win over PSG
