Leonardo Jardim had been a revelation at Monaco, but after a poor start to the season the Venezuelan-born coach was sacked, ending his four-year stint on the French Riviera.
Yet the Monegasques’ recruitment policy over the past few seasons has been nothing short of extraordinary, with some of the most iconic names in world football passing through the hallowed halls of the Stade Louis II.
Under the tutelage of Jardim, Monaco experienced a domestic and continental ascent, winning the Ligue 1 title in 2017, while simultaneously gaining serious recognition and respect from the footballing community.
However, like any club defying expectation as well as moulding together a formidable team packed out with future stars, the perennial heavyweights of Europe came sniffing.
Jardim annually saw his side stripped away of their prized assets, and remarkably he was always able to soldier on, but not forever. Monaco’s endless stream of sales finally caught up with Jardim, and he paid the ultimate price.
But where are those former Monaco stars now? Well, here are the top 10 transfer sales Monaco made under Jardim.
10. Yannick Carrasco
Current club: Dalian Yifang
Sold to: Atletico Madrid
Fee: £22.5m
Signed at just 17-years-old from Belgian outfit Genk in 2010, Carrasco quickly rose through the ranks in Fontvieille, and became a regular fixture in the side after a breakthrough 2012/13 season. However, it would be until Jardim’s debut season in charge that Carrasco would really flourish in Monaco.
In fact, it was such a brilliant season, that Atletico Madrid would come knocking the following summer, and Diego Simeone recruited the star for £22.5m. He lasted just two-and-a-half years in the Spanish capital before succumbing to the temptation of vast wealth in the Chinese Super League, joining Dalian Yifang in February.
9. Geoffrey Kondogbia
Current club: Valencia
Sold to: Internazionale
Fee: £27m
Kondogbia joined newly-promoted Monaco in 2013 after he enjoyed a blistering season in La Liga with Sevilla, and he would go on to prove indispensable to Claudio Ranieri’s midfield, as the club finished second during the 2013/14 season.
However, much like Carrasco, when Jardim arrived the following year, he would have just one season to work with Kondogbia as the club finished third, before Inter Milan came sniffing around. The Frenchman failed to cement a starting berth at the San Siro, and he now plies his trade back in Spain with Valencia.
8. Tiemoue Bakayoko
Current club: AC Milan (season-long loan)
Sold to: Chelsea
Fee: £40m
One of the main stars of the club’s famous 2017 title triumph, Bakayoko was a shining light at the Stade Louis II, though not without initial struggle. During his maiden campaign, Bakayoko came in for some scathing criticism from Jardim, who substituted him off after just 32 minutes during his debut.
However, the duo’s fractious relationship soon ended, and Bakayoko went on to thrive under the stewardship of Jardim, prompting Chelsea to sign him during the 2017 summer window. It did not quite work out for the Frenchman last season in west London, and he is now looking to rebuild his reputation on-loan with Milan.
7. Fabinho
Current club: Liverpool
Sold to: Liverpool
Fee: £40.5m
The Brazilian enforcer held the core of Jardim’s team together during his spell with Monaco, and he was instrumental as the club cantered to the title in 2017. Initially signed on-loan from Rio Ave, Fabinho was signed permanently in 2014 and quickly established himself as an exceptionally gifted anchorman.
The versatile defensive-midfielder was Jardim’s trusted soldier on the pitch, procuring the ball to allow the more technically gifted players license to thrive in the final third. This sparked interest from Liverpool, who recruited Fabinho to cure their defensive woes; he has so far failed to acclimatise to English football, but his potential remains vast.
6. Bernardo Silva
Current club: Manchester City
Sold to: Manchester City
Fee: £45m
The Lisbon-born midfielder was another player who initially joined the club on-loan, and was in fact signed by Jardim, who was so impressed with the pint-sized playmaker that he signed him permanently six months later in the winter transfer window.
Unfortunately for Les Monegasques, Silva’s time in the Principality was limited, such was his undoubted talents, and Pep Guardiola wasted no time in bringing the former Benfica man to the Etihad last season; his graceful touch and eloquent movement have deemed Silva Jnr the ultimate heir and obvious replacement to Silva Snr.
5. Benjamin Mendy
Current club: Manchester City
Sold to: Manchester City
Fee: £51.75m
Integral to Jardim’s system was the use of buccaneering full-backs capable of relentlessly surging forward without hesitation, and no player embodied that style more than Mendy, who enjoyed just one season with the club before City came knocking.
High-pressing full-backs are also fundamental to Guardiola’s high-octane philosophy, and the Spanish tactician signed three during the 2017 summer window. Unfortunately for Mendy, his season was cut short following an early injury, but he was able to get back to full fitness in time to win the World Cup with France, and no whe is back and firing on all cylinders this term.
4. Anthony Martial
Current club: Manchester United
Sold to: Manchester United
Fee: £54m
Touted as the next Thierry Henry, Martial was a sensation during his breakthrough campaign under Jardim, playing 48 matches and scoring 12 goals across all competitions during the 2014/15 season, but that breakthrough curse would only go on to haunt Monaco once more.
There is a common trend here where if you play one brilliant season at the Stade Louis II, then you appear to be off the following year, and that was certainly the case for Martial, who joined the books at Man Utd, though he has so far failed to hit the heights of his original potential and become a world-beater.
3. Thomas Lemar
Current club: Atletico Madrid
Sold to: Atletico Madrid
Fee: £63m
Linked with a different club every transfer window, it was only a matter of time before Lemar would be cutting his teeth away from the French Riviera. The 22-year-old was initially signed from Caen in 2015, becoming a model of consistency under Jardim, and another of the club’s stars during the 2017 title win.
Blessed with great pace and vigour, the Frenchman was an architect on the wing during his time with Monaco, but the club cashed in over the summer window with Atletico Madrid recruiting him for a club-record fee; he has so far made 10 appearances this season, scoring two and registering two assists.
2. James Rodriguez
Current club: Bayern Munich (two-year loan)
Sold to: Real Madrid
Fee: £67.5m
James had one breathtaking season with Monaco, but it was his exploits during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that really alerted the continent’s tycoons, and the Colombian soon found Real Madrid to be his next destination, departing Monaco without playing a single minute under Jardim.
The now-44-year-old joined the club in June 2014, but James was sold just a month later. However, every cloud has a silver lining, and Jardim – looking for a creative outlet – signed Bernardo Silva. James has since fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu and is currently enjoying a two-year loan spell with Bayern Munich.
1. Kylian Mbappe
Current club: Paris Saint-Germain
Sold to: Paris Saint-Germain (season-long loan)
Fee: £121.5m
The jewel in Monaco’s crown, Mbappe made some serious noise when he burst onto the scene two years ago, scoring 26 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions.
And such was his imperious form Ligue 1 giants PSG signed the talented tyro for what would initially be a season-long loan move in an effort to curb financial fair play regulations, before signing the World Cup winner to make him the second-most expensive player ever.
How many sides in the 2018/19 Champions League group stage can you name without cheating?
The post Where are they now? The top 10 transfer sales Monaco made under Leonardo Jardim appeared first on Squawka News.
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