Chelsea had a £47million transfer dramatically collapse late on deadline day after waiting weeks this summer before they sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City
Lamine Camara playing for Monaco
Monaco denied Lamine Camara a transfer to Chelsea on deadline day(Image: Franco Arland, Getty Images)
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Lamine Camara has admitted that another opportunity to leave Monaco could arise after they reneged on an agreement with Chelsea during transfer deadline day. They had a £47million deal in place before the Ligue 1 club made a last-minute U-turn to keep their player while negotiating Folarin Balogun's prospective £42.5million move to Everton.
Camara, 22, was the subject of two offers before Monaco reduced their asking price. They did so after concerns surfaced during the United States international's medical tests.
However, neither player left the principality for England; both stayed put. Camara has now spoken about the situation 10 days later.
During a Monaco press conference on Friday, the Senegal international said: "It was a somewhat turbulent and difficult time. But that's part of a player's life.
"I tried to remain professional, avoid dwelling on it, and move on so I could quickly focus on the upcoming match in Paris (three days later). Once it was over, there was no point in thinking about it.
"Did I want to go to Chelsea? Saying that now would imply I'm no longer fully present with the team. Yes, there was a possibility I might leave, but it didn't happen at the last minute.
Lamine Camara playing for Monaco
Lamine Camara will continue to play for Monaco until at least January(Image: DeFodi Images, DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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"These things happen; look at the example of Julian Alvarez with Atletico Madrid. It happens all over the world, and I'm trying to turn the page as quickly as possible to focus on the season."
Speaking about the possibility of interest from other clubs down the line, Camara said: "If it doesn't come back around, it will be because I gave up or didn't work hard enough. If I keep going like this, I know I can help the team perform well.
"Football moves fast, and perhaps other chances will arise. But for now, I'm staying focused on the season."
Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro defended their approach hours after the window shut. The club's sporting director said: "There is no deal on Lamine because it's also fair to do this. It's also part of the game.
"There's no reason that this kind of discussion or dynamic on the last day of the transfer window, which all of us decided to be on the last day, trying to find solutions with the clock ticking in our neck, that now this kind of interaction becomes the bad guys in the room, that Monaco is not fair, Monaco is not right.
"Everybody is very fair and nice in the football industry, just Monaco is not too much, so this is the storytelling."
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