Monza has made a bold move to boost their struggling attack by signing former Monaco striker Keita Baldé. The 29-year-old Senegalese forward joins the Serie A club as a free agent until June 2025, with an option to extend the deal. This signing comes as Monza fights to avoid relegation, sitting at the bottom of Italy’s top league with just 13 points after 24 matches.
Who Is Keita Baldé?
A forward who has played in the top European leagues, Keita Baldé has seen the world. Originally from Spain, he began his career in 2011 with Lazio after attending Barcelona‘s youth academy. He has scored 41 times in 185 Serie A games over several years for teams including Monaco, Inter Milan, Sampdoria, and Cagliari. He assisted Senegal in winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.
Recently, Baldé’s career hit a difficult patch. He played for Spartak Moscow, Espanyol, and Turkish team Sivasspor after he left Cagliari in 2021. He left Turkey in January 2025 by scoring only one goal in 11 games and terminating his contract.
Why Monza Signed Him
Monza is in crisis. The team has lost 10 of its last 11 matches and scored only 21 goals this season, the second-lowest in Serie A. To survive relegation, they need a proven scorer. Baldé’s speed, versatility, and familiarity with Serie A made him a top target.
New coach Alessandro Nesta, who replaced Salvatore Bocchetti last week, pushed for the signing after watching Baldé train. “Keita has great quality and knows Serie A well. He can help us achieve our goals,” Nesta said.
What Baldé Brings to Monza
1. Experience: Baldé has played over 150 Serie A matches and understands the league’s demands.
2. Versatility: He can play as a winger or central striker, giving Nesta tactical flexibility.
3. Speed: His pace will trouble defenders, especially in counterattacks.
4. Goal Threat: With 41 Serie A goals, he ranks third among African scorers in the league, behind George Weah and Victor Osimhen.
Baldé’s arrival fills a gap left by Milan Djuric and Daniel Maldini, who departed in January. He joins a forward line that includes Andrea Petagna and Gianluca Caprari.
Challenges Ahead
Baldé faces high expectations. Monza’s fans hope he can replicate his Lazio form, where he scored 31 goals in four seasons. However, his recent struggles in Turkey and a doping suspension in 2022 raise questions about his fitness and consistency.
Monza’s next match against Lecce on Sunday could be his debut. The club hopes his presence will inspire a turnaround.
A Fresh Start for Baldé
For Baldé, this is a chance to revive his career. “I’m excited to return to Serie A,” he said in Monza’s announcement. “I want to help the team stay up and make the fans proud”.
If he succeeds, he could also earn a recall to Senegal’s national team, which he last represented in 2022.
