Monaco star Joao Moutinho has stated his discomfort on the transfer policy the club is taking by selling its star players.
Moutinho, 29, arrived back in the summer of 2013 with James Rodriguez as part of a €70 million double transfer.
The French club has since sold off most of the big-name players from the club, including Rodriguez, which is something the Portuguese man has found difficult to take.
The former Porto midfield told L’Equipe, “The project has changed,
“It’s no longer the one that I came for but that’s the way it is. In every club I’ve been at, there were always departures and that didn’t prevent me from staying three or four years.”
“I didn’t feel misled but I was upset. I want to play for a team that plays every competition to win. And in this project, it’s more difficult — there’s naturally a bit of frustration.” Moutinho says.
Moutinho partnered the likes of Radamel Falcao, Ricardo Carvalho, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jeremy Toulalan in his first season at Monaco, as the club’s owner Dmitry Rybolovlev invested over €150m in their return to the French top flight.
Monaco finished second to Paris Saint-Germain, but attendances and commercial revenue did not have a significant increase and the club was concerned about breaching UEFA’s financial fair play rules.
Last season the club lost Falcao to Manchester United—now loaned at Chelsea and Rodriguez to Real Madrid, but still managed to finish third in Ligue 1 and also reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
After last season the club also sold other key players with the likes of Kondogbia, Ferreira Carrasco, Aymen Abdennour and Layvin Kurzawa all leaving the club.
Moutinho feels like Monaco should learn from one of his former clubs, “Porto is different,” he said. “They don’t let four or five starters leave from one season to another. They sell one or two players and, when they do so, they already have a replacement who’s been there for a year to take their place.
“What’s important is to find a good balance between the team, the objectives and the financial aspect. That’s what Monaco needs.
“I’ve been here three years and the team has won nothing. We have to do everything to give our supporters something to celebrate.”
Moutinho is still one of the few major signings that is still at the club, but has admitted a move elsewhere is tempting.
“There were discussions but nothing materialized,” he added. “We’ll see what happens at the end of the season. At the moment it would no longer be any use to talk about it.
“I’m at Monaco, focused on my club. The team is young — it needs to be led. I’ve accepted to take up the challenge.”
