Youssouf Fofana, who has been the subject of ongoing transfer speculation linking him to Manchester United, was notably absent during AS Monaco’s 3-0 victory over Barcelona on Monday night.
The match, which served as the finale of Monaco’s pre-season preparations, saw them secure a win at the Barcelona Olympic Stadium, clinching the Joan Gamper Trophy—a prize awarded at the end of Barcelona’s pre-season each year.
Monaco’s goals came from Lamine Camara, Breel Embolo, and Christian Mawissa. However, it was Fofana’s absence that drew the most attention, as he has recently been associated with potential moves to both United and AC Milan.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fofana’s exclusion from the squad was due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding his future. Reports suggest that Fofana informed Monaco prior to the match of his desire to leave the club and pursue new opportunities.
The report further noted that Fofana, who represented France at the European Championship earlier this summer, had been training for 11 days leading up to the game and was not sidelined due to injury.
Earlier in the summer, Fofana hinted that he had reached an understanding with Monaco that he could leave if a suitable offer was made.
“It’s not a secret; I’ve discussed it with the club’s leadership,” Fofana said in June. “We had conversations, and they agreed to support me in this next stage. If a move doesn’t materialize, I still have a year left on my contract, and I’m happy to stay. We agreed that we would work together in a way that benefits both the club and me.”
As the transfer window nears its close, United remains focused on bolstering their midfield, with several names, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte, Burnley’s Sander Berge, and former loanee Sofyan Amrabat, still being linked to the club.
