Folarin Balogun’s move to Monaco from Arsenal confirmed… but fans are left baffled by video to unveil the USA striker showing a NASCAR truck speeding around the streets
- It’s not exactly clear why Monaco decided to use a NASCAR truck in this video
- American fans were confused by the choice – but some embraced the weirdness
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
A permanent move for American striker Folarin Balogun from Arsenal to Monaco has been approved as of this afternoon.
No figure for the move was given, but reports from Fabrizio Romano say that the deal with be in excess of $43million (€40m).
Monaco announced the decision on Wednesday, but did so with a video that confused many Americans and Monagasque fans alike.
The video was themed to a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Las Vegas (?) that appears to lack any significant connection to Balogun himself.
Balogun was born in New York City and was raised in London – neither place is closely associated with NASCAR.
Folarin Balogun has officially made his move from Arsenal to AS Monaco on Wednesday
Balogun was announced with the use of a NASCAR racing truck for an unexplained reason
The truck was driven once in 2018 at Las Vegas by a French driver, Michel Disdier
It appears that any connection between the specific truck in question, Las Vegas, and Monaco is that the car was around in the principality to be used.
The No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet was driven at one race (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway) in the then-named Camping World Truck Series by Michel Disdier – the only French driver to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR vehicle.
Indeed, Balogun is seen in a still leaning on Disdier’s helmet – signified by a logo that is seen on the Frenchman’s website.
After leaving the circuit, Disdier donated the vehicle to a car collector – and it was even presented to Monaco’s Prince Albert II.
As for why AS Monaco decided to use video of the truck climbing the hills of the principality, then doing donuts at their training ground’s parking lot, that remains a mystery.
Those who saw the video were confused, but many Americans decided to embrace the weirdness of the clip.
One American wrote, ‘This is the most insane announcement vid I’ve ever seen lmaoooo.’
Another chose to embrace the weirdness of the NASCAR theme – posting a meme of Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 Chevrolet photoshopped into the D-Day invasion with the caption, ‘RRAAAHHHHHH RAISE HELL PRAISE DALE ALLEZ MONACO’.
‘Our guys immediately become ‘Merica cliches everywhere they go,’ another posted. ‘Do we think Balo has watched a minute of nascar in his life? Probably more of an F1 guy if anything but he looks very happy so.’
American fans were surprised by the video – with some doubling down on the surprise
For Balogun, the transfer to Monaco marks a return to the league where he cut his teeth and made an impression last season.
At Stade de Reims, he scored 21 goals in league play – good for fourth best in Ligue 1 behind leader Kylian Mbappe with 29, Alexandre Lacazette with 27, and Jonathan David with 24.
In Monaco, Balogun will be competing for a starting spot with the team’s captain Wissam Ben Yedder as well as Breel Embolo and Myron Boadu within manager Adi Hutter’s system.
Balogun was recently included in United States manager Gregg Berhalter’s roster for the September international break. The USMNT will play friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman.
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