Aleksandr Golovin is spending his eighth consecutive season with Monaco. This fact neither surprises us nor causes major disappointment.
It's simply a fact. But this very fact is Golovin's main problem.
He has already become a key player for Monaco, but recently his performances have not been inspiring. At the same time, there are no serious complaints against him either.
This situation shows that stability isn't always a good thing for a footballer. When Golovin departed for France, many expected to see him at a stronger team after a few seasons.
Years passed, he adapted to European football, became a regular starter, and by the end of the 2023/24 season, he was recognized as the team's best player. But despite these achievements, Golovin didn’t move elsewhere from Monaco.
In recent years, there have been neither transfer rumors nor talk of a move to a higher-level team. He is neither making progress nor regressing.
Golovin is simply going with the flow. On the one hand, stability is a good thing.
Not every footballer has to aim for Real Madrid or Barcelona. Golovin feels comfortable at Monaco, holds his spot in one of Europe’s strongest leagues, and is considered one of the team's key figures.
But football is not just about comfort; it’s about movement and progress. If you stop for a while, you become the second or even third choice, not the first.
If Golovin wants to leave a mark in Europe, he needs to seek new challenges. Perhaps Golovin is planning to stay at Monaco until the end of his contract, which expires in 2029.
After that, he could calmly return to Russia at age 33, since he has repeatedly stated that he’d like to finish his career in Russia. However, if Golovin’s stagnation on the field continues, his return to the Russian Premier League could happen much sooner.
Golovin used to play almost half of Monaco’s matches as a left winger, but now that position is occupied by star player Ansu Fati. In central midfield, Monaco have added Paul Pogba.
If Pogba regains his form, Golovin, with his current level of play, will clearly struggle for game time. Golovin’s stats for the 2025/26 season: 7 games, 2 goals.
Golovin’s total statistics at Monaco: 239 games, 36 goals, 40 assists.
