Chelsea flop denies move to Ligue 1 strugglers is step down

Chelsea flop Tiemoue Bakayoko has denied that he is taking a step down after being presented as a Monaco player again.

The midfielder has rejoined his former side on loan, two years after leaving them for Stamford Bridge in a £40m deal. The move did not go to plan for the Blues, who loaned him to AC Milan last year.

The Monaco side he has rejoined are struggling after narrowly avoiding relegation from Ligue 1 last year, which marks a stark contrast to the one he left, who had just been crowned Ligue 1 champions.

At his official unveiling at Monaco, though, the 25-year-old has declared that the transfer can work to his benefit as he aims to earn a recall to the French national side, with his sole cap coming in March 2017, four months before he originally joined Chelsea.

“There was a good opportunity to come back here in a very good project,” said the midfielder.

“Lots of people will perhaps say that I am taking a step back by coming to Monaco but I see it differently.

“My two experiences abroad allowed me to play a lot, contrary to what a lot of people have said. My season in Milan brought me a lot in terms of new avenues of football and professionalism. I have taken a lot of positive things away from it.

“The club is what is important today. I do not think about my personal ambitions.

“I want to try to perform well on the pitch to help the club reach its objectives. Les Bleus, I think about it, but it will come as and when. I come back with a new standing, I really want to bring to this group what I have learned and to try to transmit more confidence here.”

Monaco have the option to buy Bakayoko for around £22m if his loan spell is successful.

 

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