CSKA and Russia attacking midfielder Aleksandr Golovin has signed with Monaco. Despite weeks of Chelsea interest and a deal seemingly having been agreed to, in the end the player opted to play on the French Riviera next season.
L’AS Monaco est très heureux d’annoncer la signature d’Aleksandr Golovin en provenance du @pfc_cska pour 5 ans, jusqu’en juin 2023 ! #WelcomeToMonaco pic.twitter.com/naZRMtN4EC
— AS Monaco (@AS_Monaco) July 27, 2018
The price is €30m, which is in line with previous reports.
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev says the drawn-out transfer saga came down, in the end, to playing time. Monaco have it, Chelsea couldn’t promise it.
“Monaco and CSKA this afternoon finally agreed on the transfer of Golovin. They really were complicated. Honestly, until the last moment I was not sure that I would be able to coordinate this transfer.’
“In addition to Chelsea, there was Juventus for Golovin. In early May this year I heard from one the leaders of the Turin club that Aleksandr’s transfer to their team was a done deal.
“However, our main competitor was Chelsea. I believe Monaco offered more favourable conditions for the club and a more understandable sports project for Golovin. Chelsea – this is a top club, which I treat with great respect. However, the midfield in the English team is overloaded.
“In my opinion, Golovin will definitely play in any of the leading clubs in the world. But it will him some time, a transition stage.”
-Vadim Vasilyev; Source: Metro
Frankly, he’s not wrong. Golovin will definitely earn more minutes playing for Les Monégasques than he would at Stamford Bridge. Goal.com’s Chelsea correspondent, Nizaar Kinsella, adds that when Chelsea bought Jorginho, Golovin became convinced he’d spend a lot of time on the bench. Kinsella claims that Sarri still wanted him (or another midfielder, which might explain the low simmer of rumors about Juve’s Miralem Pjanic), but the fact is that Chelsea’s midfield is already overpopulated and will need thinning before the season starts.
Golovin choses Monaco over Chelsea, as they convince him over their project and game time. #CFC want another midfielder, but they have Jorginho added to an already crowded midfield: https://t.co/4KSVPPzGWM
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) July 25, 2018
Additionally, with Monaco having shipped-out a prodigious amount of talent to top clubs in the last two years, no doubt the 22-year-old Golovin hopes his stay in the Principality will be a way station on the road to bigger and better things. Maybe even Chelsea, someday, if he comes good. Meanwhile, Michael Emenalo signs another young player. Like he likes.