Mixed martial arts Folarin Balogun urged to join team where he “fits” and is “number one”
Reims hitman Folarin Balogun is a wanted man. The striker has found the net 19 times in 35 appearances across all competitions and his 18 goals in Ligue 1 are fifth highest.
Unsurprisingly, Balogun has been attracting attention from a host of European clubs including Olympique de Marseille, AC Milan, RB Leipzig and more.
As it stands, Balogun is set to return to his parent club, Arsenal, once the 2022-23 season concludes. The Gunners are not short of attacking options and thus a move for Balogun, away from North London is a possibility.
Former Arsenal and Man Utd man Mikael Silvestre and Liverpool icon John Barnes are of the opinion that Balogun’s future lies away from Arsenal and both gave their reasons.
In this article:
- Silvestre: Balogun needs to find a place where he’s wanted as number one
- Barnes: Just because Balogun’s doing well at Reims doesn’t mean he will perform in England
Silvestre: Balogun needs to find a place where he’s wanted as number one
The former French international believes that Balogun is ready for the highest level of football, i.e, the Champions League and his performances this season have proved it.
“Folarin Balogun has proven this year in Ligue 1 that he’s ready. He’s taken his chances and his confidence has grown.”
“He’s ready for European football at the highest level which is the Champions League.”
In addition to Ligue 1, Silvestre believes that the Serie A and the Premier League would be ideal destinations for Balogun but whichever place he joins, it has to be one where he will be the main striker.
“He needs to go where he’s going to play and start. He just needs to find the place where he’s wanted as a number one.”
“Italy and England would be good destinations for him.”
Barnes: Just because Balogun’s doing well at Reims doesn’t mean he will perform in England
John Barnes had a different take as to why Balogun’s future lies away from Arsenal. The Liverpool legend said that Balogun’s done well because Reims’ style of play has suited him and that is what he has to look for wherever he goes next.
Barnes gives the example of Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling as examples of players who’ve done well in the Serie A but had issues in the Premier League.
“Balogun is doing really well for Reims because the way they are playing suits him very well. But just because he is doing well for Reims that doesn’t mean he all of a sudden will come back to England and perform in the same way.”
“Tammy Abraham is doing well at Roma and Smalling as well because they are playing a kind of football that suits them, which is what matters.”
The England hero adds that just because Balogun has done well overseas doesn’t mean he’ll get in Arsenal’s team ahead of Gabriel Jesus or Eddie Nketiah which is why his future will be somewhere other than North London.
“So, just because he is doing well overseas doesn’t mean that he will come back to Arsenal and play instead of Jesus or Nketiah.”
“I think he should either stay there or move to a club that suits him very well and I don’t necessarily think that he is going back to Arsenal.”
