Lamine Camara Says He Has 'Turned the Page' After Chelsea Move Collapsed

Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara says he has moved on from a £47.2 million transfer to Chelsea that fell apart just minutes after the transfer window shut on deadline day.

Chelsea believed they had the deal done with less than two hours left on deadline day. But in a strange turn of events, Monaco pulled out of the agreement, leaving the Blues shocked and angry.

Chelsea sources said the two clubs had reached a full written agreement, club to club, for the 22-year-old Senegal international to make the switch. But everything changed when Monaco renegotiated a separate deal, this time sending Folarin Balogun to Everton. Once that happened, Chelsea were told the six-year contract for Camara, which had an option for a one-year extension, was off the table. People at Stamford Bridge called it an unprofessional way to handle business.

Camara addressed the situation ahead of Monaco's league game against Strasbourg on Saturday, saying he wanted to put it behind him.

"There was a possibility I could leave," he said. "It didn't go through at the last minute and that's part of football."

"I've turned the page and am focusing on the season," he added.

The collapse left Chelsea in an awkward spot. Earlier on deadline day, the club had let Enzo Fernandez join Manchester City in a joint-record £125 million British transfer, expecting Camara to come in as his replacement. Chelsea had two earlier bids rejected, worth £38.5 million and £42.9 million, before a third offer was accepted.

Sources at the club said they actually had a chance to block the Fernandez move to City once they learned Monaco had gone back on the Camara deal. But Chelsea had already given their word to City and chose to honour it, unlike Monaco.

Camara sounded ready to move forward. Monaco have won their opening three Ligue 1 matches this season and go into the weekend second in the table behind Rennes, with a game in hand.

"I can help the team a lot," Camara said. "Football moves fast. Maybe other opportunities will come along. But for now, I'm staying focused on the season with Monaco."