Senegal star Krépin Diatta opens up on Monaco reintegration

Senegal international Krépin Diatta has lifted the lid on his reintegration into the AS Monaco set-up amid competition for places in the team.

During the summer window, the versatile player was tipped to depart the Principality club even on a free transfer.

Diatta has struggled for game time at Monaco in recent months. With a wealth of attacking options at the club’s disposal, the Senegalese has been used more as a back-up option at wing-back in recent times.

However, Diatta still faced competition from Caio Henrique and Kassoum Ouattara at left-back, and Vanderson and Jordan Teze at right-back, and was considered at the third-choice option.

Speaking while on international duty, he has detailed his return to the fold at club level.

“Many think that the club pushed me to the side, but it wasn’t the case. There was just a talk in pre-season because I am an ambitious player. I am ambitious and I think that I deserve a lot of game time. It was either I played a lot, or I look elsewhere,” he began.

“That is what I explained to them. I had a year left on my deal, so I offered to find a solution (which could have seen his contract terminated early). I told Monaco that I couldn’t be an important player for my national team but a substitute at club level.”

Diatta then revealed when he was reintegrated at the Principality club. “After the match against DR Congo (9th September), we spoke again with Monaco and the decision was taken to reintegrate me,” he said, adding that there was “no problem” between him and the club.