Folarin Balogun’s move to Monaco from Arsenal confirmed… but fans are left baffled by video to unveil the USA striker showing a NASCAR truck speeding around the streets

A permanent move of American striker Folarin Balogun from Arsenal to Monaco has been approved as of this afternoon.

No figure was given for the move, but according to reports from Fabrizio Romano, the deal would exceed $43 million (40 million euros).

Monaco announced the decision on Wednesday, but did so with a video that left many Americans and Monagascan fans confused.

The video was themed to a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Las Vegas (?), which doesn’t seem to have any significant connection to Balogun itself.

Balogun was born in New York City and grew up in London – neither place is closely associated with NASCAR.

Balogun was inexplicably announced using a NASCAR race truck

The truck was driven once in Las Vegas in 2018 by a French driver, Michel Disdier

It seems that any connection between the specific truck in question, Las Vegas, and Monaco indicates that the car was in the principality to be used.

The No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet was driven in one race (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway) in the then Camping World Truck Series by Michel Disdier – the only French driver to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR vehicle.

Indeed, Balogun is seen still leaning on Disdier’s helmet – indicated by a logo seen on the Frenchman’s website.

After leaving the circuit, Disdier donated the vehicle to a car collector – and it was even handed over to Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Why AS Monaco decided to use a video of the truck climbing the hills of the principality and then making donuts in the parking lot of their training ground remains a mystery.

Those who saw the video were confused, but many Americans decided to embrace the strangeness of the clip.

One American wrote: ‘This is the craziest announcement video I’ve ever seen, lmaoooo.’

Another opted to embrace the weirdness of the NASCAR theme by posting a meme of Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 Chevrolet photoshopped into the D-Day Invasion with the caption, “RRAAAHHHHHH RAISE HELL PRAISE DALE ALLEZ MONACO.”

“Our boys instantly become ‘Merica clichés’ wherever they go,” wrote another. Do we think Balo watched Nascar for even one minute in his life? Probably more of an F1 guy, but he looks very happy.”

American fans were surprised by the video, with some emphasizing the surprise

For Balogun, the transfer to Monaco means a return to the league where he impressed and impressed last season.

At Stade de Reims, he scored 21 goals in league appearances – finishing fourth in Ligue 1 behind leader Kylian Mbappé with 29, Alexandre Lacazette with 27 and Jonathan David with 24.

In Monaco, Balogun will compete for a starting spot with team captain Wissam Ben Yedder and Breel Embolo and Myron Boadu within manager Adi Hutter’s system.

Balogun was recently included in US manager Gregg Berhalter’s squad for the September international break. The USMNT plays friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman.