Few nations in world football can match France when it comes to the depth of their talent pool at centre back and the production line shows no sign of slowing either with Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile the latest to emerge.
Despite only turning 21 at the end of March, Badiashile has already amassed over a century of appearances for The Monegasques and his impressive form has been a key factor behind a seven-game winning run that has propelled Philippe Clement’s side into the Champions League positions in Ligue 1.
Unsurprisingly, given his potential and significant experience at a young age, Premier League clubs are already circling. Newcastle were credited with an interest in January, while Manchester United and West Ham have also been linked with potential transfers in the summer window.
Although Badiashile admits that he has held talks with English clubs in the past, he insists that his primary focus is on ensuring that Monaco returns to European football’s elite stage for the first time since 2018-19.
More from Football
How the 'weight of history' derailed Manchester City's Champions League dream again05 May, 2022
Real Madrid book Champions League final place as Rodrygo stuns Man City - ratings and analysis04 May, 2022
Real Madrid are football's great survivors as Man City fall victim to their powers of recovery04 May, 2022“We all know the competitiveness of the Premier League, it is a fantastic league that of course, is very interesting and we all love these games,” Badiashile, told British journalists via a translator over zoom.
“I had the chance to the play in the Champions League with Monaco and I think this club deserves this competition, it’s a club that’s used to playing in this competition and we want to get back on track.
“Right now, I’m really happy with Monaco. I had some contact in the past with some [English] clubs but I’m fully focused on the end of the season and Monaco and I feel good.”
Badiashile namechecks two Premier League defenders – Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva – as well as PSG’s Sergio Ramos, as players in his position that he looks up to and wants to learn from and it is clear that he is a student of the game.
“I watch so many games and try to inspire myself,” he admits. “I think everybody has their own style, I have my own style but of course, it is always great to look at great players and defenders like them.”
Badiashile is not the only player being linked with a move away from Monaco at the end of the season.
Aurelien Tchouameni, the 22-year-old midfielder who has broken into Didier Deschamps’ France squad this season, has attracted attention from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United amongst others.
Over the past decade, Monaco has emerged as one of the best finishing schools in European football, with Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho and Bernardo Silva among those to have passed through their ranks.
And Badiashile credits Monaco’s trust in young players as a key factor behind his and Tchouameni’s development.
“It’s true that Monaco has always trusted young players, it has a great academy where I came from and also a management that is able to find young talent, like with Aurelien,” he said.
“It has this tradition to launch young players and to trust them and when you can see the results and the performances that we are able to get with young players I think Monaco has to continue in this way.”
BT Sport is the exclusive broadcaster of France’s Ligue 1 Uber Eats this season, with several live matches broadcast every week. Watch Lille v Monaco live on ESPN from 7.45pm on Friday 6th May. For more info, visit btsport.com
from Football | News and analysis from the Premier League and beyond | iNews https://ift.tt/ZEdXQ2R
Post a Comment