Stade de Reims' Ligue 1 Uber Eats top scorer Folarin Balogun is on fire this season, making the most of his loan spell from Arsenal to show his talents to the full - much to the delight of coach Will Still and former club mate Alexandre Lacazette... and of course the Reims faithful!
It must be nice for Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun to look at the Ligue 1 Uber Eats scorers chart and see the names of Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar below his, but the youngster is refusing to let himself get carried away. Interview...
"I mean, I try not to get complacent," Balogun told the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "I know that they're quality players, they have the ability to be able to score 3 or 4 in any game. So I mean; I'll enjoy while it lasts but of course I just try to focus on the next game."
A modest, humble and focused young man, Folarin Balogun netted his 15th goal of the season on Sunday as Stade de Reims ran out 4-0 winners against Troyes in the Champagne Derby.
That victory extended the six-time champions of France's unbeaten league run to 15 matches.
Alex's stamp of approval
Balogun has been key to this fantastic form. The 21-year-old's summer move was crucial to his development, and with Reims, he has found the perfect fit - with a former Arsenal teammate to thank for recommending the move to France.
"Flo, he was coming to train with us a lot but I could see he just needed a bit of experience of the first team," explained Alexandre Lacazette, who left the Gunners for a return to boyhood club Olympique Lyonnais in the summer. "So, I remember I told him if you go on loan maybe in France, because in France he has got the quality to perform well."
It would be an understatement to say things have gone well for both men - the OL captain is just a goal below Balogun on the scorers chart - and Lacazette has nothing but positivity to express for his former teammate.
"I'm happy for him that he came in France and he can play every week and he can show his quality to a lot of people," said the France international. "I'm not surprised that he can score goals now because he has always had this quality."
Still believes
The young striker has taken himself out of his comfort zone with the switch to Ligue 1 Uber Eats, and his coach Will Still believes it was a smart move.
"Away from the footballer, he's also a top human being," said Reims' coaching revelation. "He's a clever kid because he's identified that he's going to come to France in a different culture, different language, different league, different football, and that he needs a team around him to be able to perform so he's settled in really quickly."
The Reims striker has been ruthless in front of goal this season and has bagged exactly half of the side's 30 league strikes. However, it's all aspects of his game that impress his manager, who firmly believes Balogun can go all way to the top.
"He has all the qualities to be a top, top striker because his all round game is impressive," said Still. "He's technically very clean and tidy, he can play back-to-goal, he can run deep and his occupation of space and his timing of runs is interesting. So, I think the sky is the limit with Balo."
What next for Folarin Balogun? The striker's long-term future is unknown, but right now he leads the race for the illustrious Golden Boot in Ligue 1 Uber Eats and is certainly one to watch for the rest of the campaign!