Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has said he has "turned the page" after his £47.2million transfer to Chelsea collapsed just minutes after the summer window closed on deadline day.
Chelsea believed they had secured the 22-year-old Senegal international with less than two hours of deadline day left, after agreeing a £47.2m deal for him. Monaco then went back on the agreement, leaving the Blues stunned and furious.
Chelsea sources told Daily Mail Sport at the time that the two clubs had reached a full, written, club-to-club agreement for Camara to join. The deal was reported to be worth six years with the option of a one-year extension.
Yet when Monaco renegotiated their sale of Folarin Balogun to Everton, Chelsea were told the agreement for Camara was being withdrawn. Insiders at Stamford Bridge described it as a deeply unprofessional way for another club to conduct business.
Camara addressed the situation ahead of Monaco's match against Strasbourg on Saturday.
"There was a possibility I could leave. It didn't go through at the last minute and that's part of football," he said. "I've turned the page and am focusing on the season."
Chelsea's deadline day scramble
Chelsea had sanctioned the joint-record British transfer of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125m on deadline day, but did so without having a replacement lined up. They then spent the rest of the day chasing Camara, having two bids worth £38.5m and £42.9m turned down before a third was accepted.
Chelsea sources added that the club had the chance to stop Fernandez from completing his move to City once they learned Monaco had performed a U-turn on Camara. They said Chelsea honoured their word to their Premier League counterparts, unlike Monaco.
Monaco's strong start
Monaco have won their first three Ligue 1 fixtures of the season and sit second in the table behind Rennes, with a game in hand heading into the weekend.
"I can help the team a lot," Camara added. "Football moves fast. Maybe other opportunities will come along. But for now, I'm staying focused on the season with Monaco."
