Top scouts gather as Monaco’s stars go in shop window
ONCE again, the wealthiest clubs in the world are fuelling the executive jets and launching their top talent-spotters in the direction of Monaco. Manchester City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain is expected to be in the Stade Louis II tonight, as are representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
No one would be surprised to see Antonio Conte again. The Chelsea boss has been a regular in the crowd, although his top target, Tiemoue Bakayoko, has a broken nose and is doubtful for the Champions League semi-final against Juventus.
They all have eyes for Kylian Mbappe, but also for Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar, Benjamin Mendy, Djibril Sidibe, Fabinho and Bakayoko. At the same time, they hope to unlock a secret of the hot-house.
Monaco are doing what all European clubs long to do: sourcing talent early, relatively cheaply, nurturing and developing it and selling it on at a considerable profit.
See James Rodriguez, Anthony Martial, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Yannick Carrasco and Layvin Kurzawa as evidence.
Meanwhile, Leonardo Jardim’s team play fluent football and keep winning.
They are three points clear of mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain with a game in hand at the top of the French league and are in the Champions League semi-finals, having ousted Tottenham, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
Monaco are not a poor club. They have years of sporting heritage and a history of producing young players, including Thierry Henry. Based in a tax haven and backed by the Monaco royals and Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, they have certain things going for them. But they operate on a different scale.
Three Champions League knockout ties have brought in £5million in ticket revenue, which is twice as much as they will bank from the entire domestic season.
When vice-president Vadim Vasilyev spoke to Sportsmail two years ago, he mapped out a new strategy based on youth after selling James to Real Madrid and loaning Radamel Falcao to Manchester United.
Falcao is back, after two years in England, scoring goals and trying to extend his contract.
The project is paying spectacular dividends thanks to a scouting network, careful coaching and an environment designed for development.
Monaco create individual pathways. They wanted Martial to spend another year in France, but Manchester United’s bid spiralled to a point where they accepted on deadline day in 2015.
Selling is part of the policy. Otherwise, the pathway is blocked, although last year Vasilyev made a conscious choice to keep the squad together. Under pressure to fire Jardim, he opted to back his head coach, resisted offers for star players and reinforced the defence with a £38m outlay on Sidibe, Mendy and Kamil Glik.
The reward may be the club’s first French title since 2000. Again, offers will flood in.
Tottenham covet winger Lemar (21) and Real Madrid are leading the race for Mbappe (18), but Monaco are determined to keep those two unless the prices soar.
Then again, Monaco have signed Jorge, a 21-year-old Brazilian left-back, from Flamengo. Their reputation as a perfect stepping stone gives them an edge in the market.