LAMINE CAMARA’S failed deadline day move to Chelsea is the latest evidence that African footballers are not shown ‘respect’ according to a leading agent.
Diomansy Kamara – who used to play for Fulham in the Premier League – saw his own client, Ismalia Sarr, also fail to get a massive move this summer as Crystal Palace turned down Liverpool’s advances.
Camara, a 22-year-old defensive midfielder, was set to join Chelsea for £47million in a Deadline Day deal late on Tuesday.
But Monaco backtracked on a club-to-club written agreement to sell the player, causing the deal to collapse and leave the Blues without a replacement for Enzo Fernandez.
In one of the most unpredictable final days in recent transfer history, another Monaco star Folarin Balogun was all set to move to Everton.
French club, who were under pressure to sell, only U-turned on the Camara deal because they thought they were about to make £40m from Everton. The Toffees had second thoughts though and tried to renegotiate after checking his medical.
READ MORE
THE LONG HALL
Inside Utd’s window as club ‘overpay’ for midfielder and play Hall long game
TOP TIPS
European Masters 2026 betting tips, free bets and latest golf odds
After looking elsewhere, namely at Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee, Everton ended up going back in for Balogun.
Camara had already completed his Chelsea medical and was preparing to fly to London.
Balogun then decided against joining Everton, meaning Monaco did not make the sales they needed and neither player has left the club.
Kamara, who also represents Nicholas Jackson, saw Sarr’s dreams of a move to Anfield crushed by Palace and believes that deal and Camara’s calamity is a lack of respect to African players.
Most read in Sport
SAMBA STAR
Sancho ‘agrees shock free transfer to Brazil and links up with ex-Prem stars’
CLOSE CARL
Alcaraz suffers US Open wardrobe malfunction as Bouchard says ‘put it away’
THE LONG HALL
Inside Utd’s window as club ‘overpay’ for midfielder and play Hall long game
LOOKING ACE
Aryna Sabalenka defends US Open outfit after wearing mesh, see-through dress
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Friday 4 September
Ipswich
20:00
EPL
Liverpool
Saturday 5 September
Newcastle
12:30
EPL
Bournemouth
Brentford
15:00
EPL
Sunderland
Brighton
15:00
EPL
Leeds
Fulham
15:00
EPL
Palace
Man City
15:00
EPL
Coventry
Monday 31 August
Villa
0 – 1
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 30 August
Man Utd
5 – 2
EPL
Ipswich
Sunderland
1 – 0
EPL
Fulham
Leeds
1 – 1
EPL
Brentford
Chelsea
4 – 3
EPL
Brighton
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
2
6
4
2
0
0
2
2
6
4
2
0
0
3
2
6
3
2
0
0
4
2
6
2
2
0
0
5
2
4
3
1
1
0
6
2
4
2
1
1
0
7
2
4
2
1
1
0
8
2
4
1
1
1
0
Kamara said: “The cases of Ismaila Sarr and Lamine Camara must all interrogate us.
“We have to get out of this logic where the African player can sometimes give the feeling that he is just a commodity: you buy it, you set its price, you negotiate its future and, too often, your will seems to go to the background.
“Our African players deserve respect. The respect of their work. The respect of their career. Respecting their ambitions. The respect of their voices.”
Liverpool had two bids rejected for Sarr despite the winger making it known he would like to leave Selhurst Park.
Galatasaray had also shown an interest in the 28-year-old former Watford man.