Monaco's opening weeks of the season have been defined by two contrasting storylines: a perfect run of results on the pitch and turmoil off it, as a chaotic transfer deadline day left the club's hierarchy scrambling for answers even as the team continued to win.
The headline news from deadline day was that Monaco's top scorer from last season, Folarin Balogun, chose to remain at the club rather than complete a move to Everton, despite the two clubs having already reached an agreement. On the same night, a separate deal to sell midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea collapsed, leaving Monaco with neither departure they had planned for nor the funds they needed to satisfy Ligue 1's financial watchdog, the DNCG.
Monaco had begun the window intending to let Balogun leave, with Matthis Abline signed from Nantes to replace him. But as talks over Camara's move to Chelsea dragged on, the French transfer window shut before the deal could be finalised, and by then it was too late to bring in his intended replacement, Érik Lira, since Balogun's non-EU squad slot had not been freed up as expected.
The fallout was evident at a hastily arranged press conference, where Monaco's CEO, Thiago Scuro, pushed back against suggestions that the club was to blame for the confusion. "Unfortunately, we have to face this situation and find solutions in different ways," Scuro said, without detailing exactly what those solutions might look like.
Head coach Filipe Luís was equally frank about the squad issues that remain following the deadline-day disarray, describing his group as "imbalanced" due to an excess of centre-forwards, insufficient midfield depth, and no recognised right winger following Maghnes Akliouche's departure to PSG.
Despite the disruption, Monaco have continued to perform superbly on the pitch. They became the only side in Ligue 1 to win their opening three league matches this season, and their unbeaten start extended to five games in all competitions after a 2-1 win away at PSG, in which Monaco came from behind thanks to goals from Nazinho and Stanis Idumbo. Camara, whose proposed exit dominated headlines, was outstanding in the second half of that win.
Luís suggested that Camara's continued excellence will not go unnoticed by Europe's elite. "If he maintains his level, it won't just be one club – all the big clubs will come for him," the coach said, calling the 22-year-old "unbelievable" and "elite," adding that "there aren't a lot of players like him in football." Scuro also hinted that better offers for Camara could emerge before his eventual departure.
Luís, who won the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo before taking over at Monaco this summer, has overseen a start to the season that surpasses even that of club legend Arsène Wenger. Balogun, who has been sidelined for the opening fixtures, is expected to return to action soon, offering an added boost to a Monaco squad already flying high in Ligue 1's table with nine points from three matches, four clear of the chasing pack.
Elsewhere in the division, PSG's winless start to the league campaign continued despite the reigning champions extending several contracts, including that of manager Luis Enrique. It marks the first time since 2012 that PSG have failed to win any of their opening three league games, though few view this as a genuine crisis given their dominance in recent seasons. Marseille, meanwhile, endured a difficult week, following up a defeat to Monaco with a 3-2 home loss to Paris FC, in which Lassine Sinayoko scored a hat-trick.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football (via Get French Football News).