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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Striker thrived on loan at Reims last season</li><li>Earned big-money transfer away from Arsenal</li><li>Has found the going tougher in 2023-24</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Two goals in 14 games! USMNT star Folarin Balogun backed to silence doubters despite dreadful run for Monaco

Ligue 1

Montpellier

Monaco

The 22-year-old striker smashed through the 20-goal barrier in French football last season during a productive loan spell at Reims. Those exploits <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-arsenal-sell-usmnt-star-folarin-balogun-mikel-arteta-explains-40m-transfer-monaco/blt209df551351e8905" target="_blank">earned him a big-money transfer away from Premier League giants Arsenal</a>. He <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/not-good-thing-usmnt-folarin-balogun-complicated-admission-run-one-goal-11-monaco/blt098276ffeb053d4c" target="_blank">has found the going a little tougher</a> in 2023-24, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-hero-villain-usmnt-star-folarin-balogun-scores-exquisite-goal-missing-another-penalty-monaco/blt74184e1b61b1f270" target="_blank">missing a few penalties along the way</a>, but retains the full support of his club colleagues.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Monaco team-mate Denis Zakaria has told <a href="https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/ligue-1/2023-2024/denis-zakaria-qa-he-s-a-great-goalscorer-monaco-star-backs-under-fire-team-mate-folarin-balogun_sto10051945/story.shtml " target="_blank">TNT Sports</a> of Balogun’s supposed struggles in the final third: “He's an important player for us. When a striker doesn't score for a few matches, we tend to criticise him a bit. He's helped us a lot in many matches, especially against Lens. Even if he hasn't always been as efficient as he can be, he's a great goalscorer and a great guy. I have no doubt he'll score a lot of goals for AS Monaco.”

WHAT ZAKARIA SAID ABOUT BALOGUN

Balogun is not the only exciting forward on Monaco’s books – as he is joined by the likes of Wissam Ben Yedder, Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino and Maghnes Akliouche - with Zakaria saying when asked who impresses him the most: “I could mention all of them... There's a lot of talent. But honestly, there are so many players, including young ones, who are very strong... I couldn't single one out in particular. We're very lucky to have them all.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Monaco have risen up to third in the Ligue 1 table, as they compete for Champions League qualification, and have seen Balogun register six goals in 22 appearances. Indeed, he'll be looking to hit top form soon as he works his way through <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/world-cup-history-makers-christian-pulisic-gio-reyna-usmnt-class-2026-record-setting-prediction-hero-1994-finals/blta342857a2348bac2" target="_blank">a big year for the United States,</a> that includes the CONCACAF Nations League finals and 2024 Copa America.

WHAT NEXT FOR BALOGUN?

Two goals in 14 games! USMNT star Folarin Balogun backed to silence doubters despite dreadful run for Monaco | Goal.com English Oman

Folarin Balogun only has two goals in his last 14 appearances, but the USMNT star is being backed to score “a lot” for Monaco.

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