Monaco president Dmitry Rybolovlev insists he won’t stand in the way of players that wish to join the likes of Manchester United this summer.
Leonardo Jardim’s side have captured the attention of Europe’s elite this season by winning Ligue 1 ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and by reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe has attracted the most attention but Fabinho, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Thomas Lemar and Bernardo Silva have all also been linked with summer exits.
Though the French giants are under no financial pressure to sell, Rybolovlev acknowledges Monaco can’t compete with the history of United, Real Madrid and Barcelona and says if a player wants to leave then they can.
‘We are not here to decide in the place of men, block them, tell them yes or no,’ Rybolovlev told L’Equipe.
‘We have no budget problem and we are not forced to sell, but the day when a player or coach wants to leave, it’s just
unimaginable to keep him against his wish. We are not Real Madrid or Barcelona or Manchester. Everyone has to cross the road in his career to go even higher. You do not keep a man against his will.
‘In business, if you go against the market and against the trends, you will always lose. After, if someone goes, this is not our initiative.
‘You know, (Anthony) Martial, it was he who wanted to leave and we can understand.’
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