Monaco: 6 Reasons to Take Them Seriously Next Season

With the Ligue 1 season only just finished, the second tier season was done and dusted two days before on Friday.

But before the campaign had even seen its last game, ambitious and affluent Ligue 2 champions Monaco announced a transfer coup that made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.

On Friday, the final day of the season, the Principality outfit announced the double signing of Porto stars Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for a reported €70million (via ESPN FC).

With the dust not having even settled on those deals, both five-year contracts, it is suggested the long-running saga surrounding Colombian sensation Radamel Falcao will also reach its conclusion in Monaco on Monday.

The Atletico Madrid man who signed from Porto in 2011 is reported to be due to undergo a medical ahead of sealing a €60million switch to the Stade Louis II (via ESPN FC).

With more star names sure to arrive before Ligue 1 kicks off again in August, here are six reasons why Les Monegasques must be taken seriously.

Falcao

If Monaco can pull off a deal for Falcao, it will be a massive coup for Claudio Ranieri’s side.

Signing the highly coveted 27-year-old is a massive statement of intent from a side that have only just returned to the top flight after a two-year absence.

The Colombian international will immediately command the respect of ASM’s opponents on and off the pitch and, more importantly, open the door to a number of other high-profile arrivals.

Arguably one of the best players in world football right now, Falcao is capable of leading Les Monegasques almost single-handedly (like Zlatan Ibrahimovic for PSG) on a title challenge with the current squad.

If there are further talented big-name arrivals, possibly including Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez (via ESPN FC), then his signing may prove the catalyst to the birth of a new French and possibly even European power.

James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho

The fact that a deal for Falcao will dwarf the double signing of James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho demonstrates just how big of a moment it could be for French and European football.

But the double signing should not be overlooked and should actually prove just as valuable to Monaco as the goals that you would imagine the prolific Colombian will net.

Portuguese international Moutinho and Falcao’s 21-year-old Columbian compatriot Rodriguez are equally as ambitious moves given the level of competition the Principality outfit faced in trying to land them (via ESPN FC).

The pair will be key players for the side, and the Monaco hierarchy acted in advance of the arrivals by allowing highly rated young French midfielder Nampalys Mendy to complete a move to their Cote d’Azur rivals Nice.

Moutinho and Rodriguez also rival the calibre of players on show in the capital with champions Paris Saint-Germain.  The duo will help to claw back some of Carlo Ancelotti and his side’s advantage immediately.

Current Side

Despite the additions, Monaco already had a strong side and would have likely been in the upper half of the table based on this season’s squad alone.

The likes of 18-goal striker Ibrahima Traore, Argentine starlet Lucas Ocampos, captain Valere Germain and the exciting Belgian youngster Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco would all walk into many of the current Ligue 1 sides.

Mendy, too, was a key figure in ASM’s promotion and his departure, and though understandable in light of the recent transfer activity, is an excellent piece of business from canny Nice boss Claude Puel.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have been solid, if unspectacular, in claiming the Ligue 2 title this season, and they provide a solid base for the likes of Rodriguez, Moutinho and Falcao to build upon.

Signings Won’t Stop There

You can be guaranteed that the signings won’t stop there either.

Other European stars to be linked with a move to the Stade Louis II included Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes (via ESPN FC), Brazilian international and Barca teammate Dani Alves who also admitted he’d consider a move to PSG (via ESPN FC) and Carlos Tevez (via ESPN FC).

Any of those three would immediately make this current Monaco side one capable of playing in Europe, but all three would make them immediate contenders for PSG’s domestic title and the Champions League the season after that, should ASM immediately qualify.

Champions League

It is at European football’s top table where Monaco will perhaps make their presence most keenly felt once they arrive, as is expected.

Moutinho, Rodriguez, Falcao and anybody who follows the trio to Monte Carlo would be taking a risk in assuming that the beaten 2004 finalists will qualify for next season’s competition.

But given the quality in the Monaco team alongside them, you’d assume it is more of a question of whether they finish in first or second place in Le Championnat next season.

Les Monegasques, once they reach the competition, will be keen to have an impact similar to that of domestic rivals PSG in reaching the quarterfinal stage after an eight-year absence.

Ligue 1

But all of this is based on assumptions.

It is assumed that the trio and Monaco’s grand moves will go swimmingly and completely according to plan.

Be warned, nothing ever goes completely according to theory in France.

Just look at PSG, beaten to the title by a highly motivated Montpellier side last season, they may have won their first in 19 years by 12 points this year, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.

Monaco’s problem, like PSG, will be complacency. It will be entertaining to watch.

Also, the presence of Monaco in the top-flight and the calibre of players that they are bringing to France currently is a massive boost for Ligue 1.

Since PSG were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments, Le Championnat has been crying out for a team capable of rivalling the side from the capital.

Now they have them.

French football is now not only of interest to a wider European audience, it is now going to be more accessible to a world market with the addition of megastars such as Falcao, Rodriguez and Moutinho.

Ligue 1 has never had it so good.

Expect PSG to react to Monaco’s cash-splashing by doing a bit of their own, turning next season’s title race into one of Europe’s most hotly anticipated battles.