ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Pochettino’s talk of finding the ‘best place to perform’ avoids the real issue: Balogun’s value to the USMNT depends on regular club minutes, not moral support. Until he secures a side where he starts, his international role will stay marginal.
The Everton move fell apart when medical doubts arose, leaving him at Monaco where he has already been left out of the Conference League squad. With the Saudi window open until Oct 12 and the Portuguese, Brazilian and Mexican leagues closing on Sept 15, 11 and 11 respectively, his options are narrowing fast.
The deadline for a Saudi move is Oct 12, and if he remains at Monaco he must force his way into the starting XI before their next Ligue 1 fixture. That is the concrete test of whether Balogun can truly find his best place to perform.
Folarin Balogun
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Hislop has 'no sympathy' for Everton over Balogun transfer saga (1:46)
Jeff CarlisleSep 7, 2026, 10:22 AM ET Follow
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United States men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said he hasn't spoken with U.S. and AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun about his aborted move to Everton, but plans to in the coming days in order to offer his support.
Last Tuesday, Balogun walked away from a potential transfer to Everton on deadline day. It appeared that terms had been agreed between the two clubs and the player. But questions raised by Everton about his medical saw the 25-year-old reconsider, and he remains with Monaco.
The next day, Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro said "The allegation of Balogun is that, 'I'm not feeling well by the way the club treated me, the way the medical team brought doubts about my future or my health. I'm not comfortable to sign a long contract here the way we finished the transfer window here.'"
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During a roundtable with reporters on Monday, Pochettino said he only wants Balogun to find a place where he can be at his best.
"It's difficult because you cannot influence the decision and only you need to support what they are doing with the people making the decisions," Pochettino said via video conference from London.
"Of course, in some special case, [like] Flo, I will call in the next few days because I want to give a little bit of space after all that happened with his situation in Everton.
"I want to know from him what happened, but always offering our support and be with them and that's it. I think he's an important player for us, was an important player in the World Cup and hope that he can find being in Monaco, in another place, his best place to perform in the best way."
It is unclear whether Balogun will remain with Monaco as his transfer options dwindle. The Saudi Pro League transfer window is open until Oct. 12, so that remains an option as do the Portuguese League (Sept. 15), Brazil's league (Sept. 11) and Mexico's Liga MX (Sept. 11).
Folarin Balogun was omitted from Monaco's squad for the Conference League amid uncertainty over his future.Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Pochettino added that he has been in touch with Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks, as well as other dual nationals. Banks has appeared for the U.S at youth level, but is also eligible to represent Germany.
He was called into a USMNT camp a year ago, but didn't play. He later said wasn't ready to make a decision on his international future, and thus ruled himself out of possibly playing for the U.S. at the World Cup earlier this year.
"We are in contact with all the potential dual nationals," Pochettino said. "I think it's important for us to see, of course, because that is the connection, the human connection that is so important. Even if they, like in that case, [Banks] didn't change in his mind and is waiting; still no decision.
"And of course we cannot consider him for the next camp. That is the case. But also the organization is working with all the dual national and player with the possibility to make decision.
"Yes, that human connection is important because if one day they feel that they can defend and they want to fight and to be part of our national team, of course, if they deserve and we consider it that they deserve to be involved, of course we are going to call. In that case, Noki is still in the same situation that was before the World Cup when we talk."
AI-assisted · generated from ESPN FC reporting, not editor reviewed
