KEY POINTS

  • Benoit Badiashile made his senior debut at Monaco during the 2018-19 season
  • He has made 71 competitive appearances for Monaco so far
  • He is currently contracted with Monaco until 2024

Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile confirmed that he had rejected a $31 million move to Manchester United last summer window.

After an impressive run in the 2019-20 season at the Stade Louis II Stadium, Badiashile was heavily linked with Manchester United but the 19-year-old defender snubbed the deal. Having played 20 matches for Monaco in the ongoing campaign, he has helped his side revive in the Ligue 1. After 26 matches in the French league, Monaco are placed fourth, just two points behind defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and six points behind leaders Lillee.

“It was the right choice, first off is that I have not enjoyed good seasons since I have been at Monaco. We played to stay up and so now I am really experiencing being at the top of the table and I think that continuing with the club that trained me was the right decision and this is being proved by the season that we are having,” Badiashile told RMC Sport in an interview.

On being asked if he regretted not switching to the Premier League to join the Red Devils, the Badiashile responded, "No, not at all.”

After finishing 33 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool last season, Manchester United were expected to sign a defender as the club believed their captain Harry Maguire needed a pacey partner instead of Victor Lindelof. It was reported that the Old Trafford side was ready to spend $31 million for Badiashile but the deal never happened.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire (right) offered his support to team-mates Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial after they were subjected to racist abuse on social media
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire (right). POOL / Laurence Griffiths

The teenage defender graduated from Monaco’s junior team to make his senior debut during the 2018-19 season. Since then, he has clinched 71 first-team appearances for Monaco. His latest terrific display of game came in his side’s away league fixture against PSG, where he managed to keep the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Moise Kean quiet as Monaco won the game 2-0.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are 10 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after 25 matches into the 2020-21 season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side next match is the second leg of their round-of-32 Europa League tie against Real Sociedad Thursday.

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