Explained: Why USMNT star Folarin Balogun believes international match congestion has made adjusting to life in Monaco difficult

The 22-year-old striker completed a €40 million (£35m/$44m) transfer from Premier League giants Arsenal during the summer window. He starred in French football last season, with 22 goals recorded during a productive loan spell at Reims.

Balogun has registered four goals for Monaco since returning to Ligue 1, but he missed out on pre-season in new surroundings and has regularly been crossing the Atlantic to turn out for his country. Balogun has told Monaco’s official website of finding his feet at Stade Louis II: “I joined a new team this summer. I’m still getting to know my team-mates, it’s not necessarily easy with the different international breaks. So it’s taking little longer. But I like playing in this team.”

Balogun’s latest goal for Monaco came in their 5-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, with the New York native trying to take positives from a disappointing display against the reigning French champions. He added: “I think when you lose 5-2 the feeling is never very positive. We created several chances, especially in the first half. Paris is a great team and we made mistakes which we paid for. I don’t think they were much stronger than us, they were just more clinical. During the 90 minutes, there were periods of the match where we dominated, and it was the same for them.

Monaco sit third in Ligue 1 as things stand, six points behind PSG, and Balogun does not have any more international to worry about until March 2024 – when the USMNT will face Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals.