Folarin Balogun faces uncertain future after shoulder surgery
- Folarin Balogun has been struggling with a shoulder injury since October 2024, resulting in missed matches.
- He will undergo surgery as confirmed by Monaco coach Adi Hutter, who stated that the recovery timeline is uncertain.
- This situation is detrimental for both the player and the team, impacting their performance in ongoing competitions.
In France, Monaco’s striker Folarin Balogun has been struggling with a shoulder injury since October 2024, which has led to his absence from the field for several Ligue 1 matches. Following the dislocation of his shoulder, he managed to make a brief return to play on November 30, 2024, as a substitute in a Champions League match against Benfica. Although he started in the subsequent match against Marseille on December 1, he was taken off after 68 minutes, raising concerns regarding the severity of his injury. As the situation deteriorated, Monaco's coach Adi Hutter confirmed that Balogun would not be available for the upcoming match against Toulouse and would be undergoing surgery. The decision for the surgery came after Balogun's performance and fitness were clearly affected by the injury. He had missed six league matches and was not included in the squad for recent games. The prognosis regarding his recovery timeline remains unclear, as noted by Hutter, who expressed disappointment for both Balogun and the team. The surgery is expected to put Balogun on the sidelines for an uncertain period, which means that not only his individual progress is at stake but also his contributions to the team during this crucial part of the season. Balogun had made a mark in his limited appearances this season, scoring three goals in seven Ligue 1 matches before the injury sidelined him. With the new USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino in charge, Balogun's absence has left a gap in the squad, and this situation adds pressure to the team's performance moving forward as they navigate both domestic and European competitions.