Breel Embolo missed almost the entire season with Monaco, but has now made an impressive return at the European Championship in Germany. What does the future hold for the national team striker?
Breel Embolo played just 184 minutes for AS Monaco last season. A cruciate ligament rupture and muscular problems put the international striker out of action for almost the entire season. Despite everything, Embolo made it into Murat Yakin's European Championship squad - and made an impressive comeback.
"I had such a difficult year. I only concentrated on the things I could influence: That's stepping on the gas in the gym and stepping on the gas on the pitch. Getting the maximum out of it so that I have a chance at the European Championship," Embolo looks back on the difficult time in an interview with Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg.
From now on, however, Embolo wants to look ahead. "I'm not worried, I have a two-year contract and a great coach in Adi Hütter - a great club, great lads and we've qualified for the Champions League, which is very important for me and the club," said the 27-year-old. A transfer this summer is therefore not on the cards. "But you never know in football. If I come back and am told you have to leave, I have to look for a solution," Embolo notes.
Conceivable return to the Bundesliga?
He can imagine a return to the Bundesliga one day. "Always! It's an exciting league, I spent six great years there. My children were born there. I had two great clubs: At Schalke, of course, it was special in front of 60,000 and at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where it was very familiar and I had a better time."
The Bundesliga conference on Saturday at 3.30pm is also a must-see for Embolo: "It's a league that I follow, also because of the Swiss who play here. If it becomes an issue, you have to watch it. Of course, there aren't that many clubs I can go to anymore. A return to Gladbach would be far too soon and I'm also very, very happy at Monaco at the moment."
On the failed Bayern deal
Before moving to Monaco in 2022, Embolo was reportedly also in talks with Bayern. Is the big FCB an issue? "I can't say anything about that, out of respect for my club and out of respect for FC Bayern. It's a great club, of course," says Embolo. "Max is there now. I know Leroy, Dayot, Leon and Choupo very well. That's why it's a club I'll be watching on Saturday or Sunday. But I'm not worried about that and I can't and don't want to comment on it."
