Over the past few years, a large no. of the world’s finest players have come from France. After all, they’re the most recent world cup winners. But the funny thing is that, even players who are not French, but have come out of France have shaken the football world more times than not. Suffice it to say, the scouts and recruiters over at France have a keen eye for budding talent and the case is all the more apparent with a club like AS Monaco. It’s surprising just how much incredible talent has come out of one single club equally surprising just how much great talent that club chose to part ways with.
The Current Situation:
Before the picks, a look at the current state of the club is imperative and the word ‘wonky’ is, unfortunately, an apt description. Prior to 2018-19, Monaco was hovering around the top, actually winning the French League in 2016-17. But it all turned upside down in the last season. From placing 2nd in 2017-18, the French Club dropped down all the way to 17th, escaping relegation by a mere 2 points. Times aren’t great in the latest season either. The club has won only 1 game so far, sitting at the all too familiar no. 17 spot once again.
If you look at the past years, the amount of great talent let go by the club is hard to believe and their fall from the top has often been correlated with them selling some of their big players. Some of these players have gone on to do great things like win leagues and even the Champions League and World Cup with the national side. The ‘what if’s’ when it comes to looking back on players Monaco sold are almost too painful to swallow for patrons of the club. Thus without further ado, let’s look at some of the best players the club let go.
5. Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City):
It did not take long for Mendy to become a top-tier full back. The only reason he isn’t ranked higher is because of his injury woes. That being said, he simply is one of those complete full-backs. He played one season with Monaco and was brilliant with them even raking up 6 assists. Strong on both attack and defence, Mendy caught the eye of Manchester City and moved to England for 52 million (pounds). He’s played only 18 league matches and has 6 assists. That is highly impressive in a team with passers like De Bruyne and both Silva’s doing a lot of great play-maker work. He has also been great on the defensive end of things due to his large frame and game-sense.
4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal; was on loan at Monaco):
AC Milan put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through a sort of hellish loan cycle and Monaco surely wishes it could’ve taken advantage of it and bought him permanently at the end. Aubameyang is fresh off a fantastic comeback against Aston Villa; he was a huge part of it scoring the winning goal. He was the joint golden-boot winner in the Premier League last season along with Mane’ and Salah. He’s an opportune speed merchant and he has the lungs to make use of that speed, effectively making him one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers. Imagine how much greatness Monaco could’ve achieved with such a potent weapon of a player.
3. Fabinho (Liverpool):
Undefeated in the league? Check. Brazilian national team? Check. Strong on both attack and defence check? Check. UEFA Champions League Winner? Check. Fabinho is a gem of a player. 40 million pounds is surely a lot of money but it’s a bargain when you get Fabinho. A player with brilliant read and can play a multitude of positions including holding midfield and centre-half is a true asset in any team and with any playstyle. Fabinho won the UCL with the reds and is looking to win the PL with them this year as well. His read and tackling as a CB is fantastic and just as beautiful is his clever passing and vision in the holding midfield.
2. Bernardo Silva( Manchester City):
The Portuguese international who scored a hat-trick in the recent 8-0 thrashing laid down by Man City on Watford is one of the best players around. 43.5 million pounds simply wasn’t anywhere close to enough for letting this man go. There are a lot of matches where whatever Bernardo Silva touches turns to gold. He is strong as a winger and a CAM -type player because his dribbling is great and so are his passing and crossing skills. He can work as a false-9 owing to some great precise finishing and despite being short, he can get the job done a lot of the time in the air. A superb player through and through and instrumental in Manchester City winning the league in the 2018-19 season.
1. Kylian Mbappe ( Paris Saint-Germain):
Mbappe was initially loaned to PSG before being bought for a jaw-dropping 121 million Pounds. To date he is the most expensive teenager. The spot could be seen as controversial since the amount is so high but consider that the recent years have not been kind to Monaco while MBappe has been subject to immense praise, considered a wunderkind by almost every football fan and critic on the planet. He’s won the Ligue 1 two times already and was France’s biggest highlight in the 2018 World Cup. Mbappe is a brilliant forward with immense speed, vision and finishing. His dribbling is fantastic and there simply is no doubt that he not only is the best young player but one of the best players in the world in general. He truly has lived up to the amount and PSG might’ve added a lot of silverware to their name including the UCL. After all, he played a crucial part in their 6-6 win over Manchester City in the 2016-17 QF and was also the top scorer in the league last season.
