Folarin Balogun's proposed move to Everton fell through at the 11th hour on deadline day after he turned down the chance to join David Moyes' side
Folarin Balogun in action for the United States
Folarin Balogun's proposed move to Everton collapsed on deadline day(Image: Getty Images)
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AS Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro has claimed that Folarin Balogun walked away from a move to Everton after he felt 'mistreated' during his medical.
Balogun, 25, was set to join David Moyes' side on a long-term contract after a £40million deadline day deal was agreed. However, after issues were raised in his medical, Balogun rejected the chance to join Everton and left the club's Finch Farm training ground without signing.
Now, less than 24 hours on from Balogun's decision, Monaco chief Scuro has opened up on the situation and alleged that the United States international was "not comfortable" about joining Everton.
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Ligue 1 chief 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'. That the way we finished the transfer window here."
After an issue was flagged during the medical, Everton restructured the deal with Monaco to a much lower fee than the one that had been agreed, with the new terms including an appearance-related trigger for additional payments, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Monaco agreed to those changes to the structure of the transfer, and all parties were happy to sign the deal sheet just before 11pm. However, an hour later, Balogun made it clear he wanted to return to his current club.
Balogun's decision has left Everton with one senior striker following the end of the summer transfer window after they allowed Beto to sign for Fiorentina on a permanent deal. Thierno Barry has started the season with four goals in three matches and, unless the Toffees sign a free agent centre forward, the 23-year-old Frenchman is the club's only No.9 up until January at least.
Everton and Chelsea found themselves in a transfer tug-of-war with Monaco throughout deadline day, with the Toffees wanting Balogun and the west Londoners eyeing up a move for midfielder Lamine Camara. The Ligue 1 side went into deadline day open to selling Balogun, but against sanctioning a deal for Camara.
But Monaco were forced to open the door to a sale for Camara when concerns around Balogun were raised. Scuro argued that Everton's concerns regarding his medical made no sense but were not unique in the moment.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun pulled out of his move to Everton(Image: John Nacion/Getty Images for Fanatics)
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Scuro said: "During the day (transfer deadline day), we had a clear agreement for Balogun to go to Everton, Balogun flew to Everton to undergo a medical.
"Our plan worked very well in this moment in terms of generation of revenue, players transfer. Balo going, besides the salary, an important income to help balance the season and Lamine staying.
"What happened in the afternoon, Chelsea was always testing and trying for Lamine, I was in contact for the last 10 days. Around 4pm, we got a call from Chelsea, 'Okay, we sold a player in this position, is there any possibility that Monaco would sell Lamine (Camara)'. The answer was the same. No.
"Balo was in Liverpool going through his medical, around 7pm, we had a call from Everton raising questions on the medicals of Balo, which for our medical staff, the personnel staff of the player, made totally no sense.
"The explanations were not enough to justify or bring concerns for the future of the player, this discussion started for medical departments, it took Everton two to three hours to check through the assessment, this is a normal situation.
Chelsea wanted to sign Lamine Camara
Chelsea wanted to sign Lamine Camara (Image: Getty Images)
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"This was ongoing, meanwhile this was in the press quite quickly, it was already in the media that Balogun is failing the medical and of course, Chelsea saw the opportunity, 'Monaco needs money, Balo is strugglng there, let's go, let's try'. This is the game.
"On this moment, we had to open the door for the discussion, we started conversations for Lamine, I informed the player directly, I informed his agent, we had discussions for the conditions for Lamine to go to Chelsea. Meanwhile, the medical discussion was ongoing with Balo.
"Around 10pm, Everton realised there is no problem. As soon as we got the information, we came back to Chelsea that we have our deal there and there's no deal for Lamine. It's fair to do this, it's part of the game.
"Premier League has a mechanism where you have one extra hour to finish the paperwork, this was done five minutes before the close of the transfer window for us to finish paperwork between Balogun and Everton. I signed the contract, Everton signed the contract, at the last moment the player decided not to sign.
"Now, we are still waiting for Balo to come back and to sit and discuss and to realise between us what is next. We still have other markets open, which we are having discussions in different players including Balo, let's see what can still happen until Thursday, because we still have markets that have the financial capacity to do something and this is what happened and this is where we are today. Whatever was not clear, I am open to answer."
Balogun and Camara are now expected to remain at Monaco until at least January. The duo could be both in Filipe Luis' squad for their trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
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