Mika Biereth, all smiles with fans at AS Monaco Village

AS Monaco’s Danish striker was at the AS Monaco Village early on Tuesday evening, 19 August, meeting fans at a very well-attended autograph session.

This was the third and final summer signing session at the AS Monaco village on Port Hercule. The atmosphere was electric as Mika Biereth took to the stage with storm clouds threatening. After Ansu Fati on 22 July and Eric Dier on 6 August, it was the Danish striker’s turn to meet his fans, who turned out in force to get their shirts signed.  

With “Mika” printed on his bib, a young fan fired a powerful shot at the giant target set up on Port Hercule. “I came here for Eric Dier too. It’s great to meet the players in person,” he told us, his face becoming serious, “Plus with the arrival of the new recruits, we have a great team.” Thomas, who was also waiting for a photo with the Danish striker, felt “the number 9 position suits Mika perfectly, he has put in some good performances since the start of January.”

With mascot Bouba cheering, and the fans joining in, Mika – as his youngest fans like to call him – broke through the crowd with a big smile to take his place on the stage. After running his hand through his blonde locks one last time, the selfie and autograph session could get underway.

One by one, several hundred fans came up, balls, shirts, caps and scarves in hand, to meet the Red and White star. With a friendly gesture or comment (in French!) for each one, Mika Biereth clearly enjoyed spending time with his fans. Supporters of all ages came down from the stage with smiles on their faces, some jumping up and down in delight. The Dane even took time out to answer journalists’ questions.

“It’s a real pleasure to see how many fans have turned out, and support me. They’re friendly, they ask me how I’m doing: that’s one of the reasons I feel so good here in Monaco. I’ve only been here six months, so this is the first summer I’ve spent here. Pre-season has gone very well and that should continue,” he commented into the outstretched microphones, adding: “I feel good on the training ground at the Centre de la Turbie. The fans come out in force to support us. You can see it today, they’re really involved in the life of the club, and that’s great!”

Nicolas and his young family came all the way from Valence to be around at the end of AS Monaco’s training session at La Turbie. Stationed at the exit at the end of the afternoon, they got their first glimpse of Mika Biereth, followed by several of their idols, Golovin, Minamino, Diatta, Dier, Balogun – as proven by the photos they scrolled through on their smartphone. “He had a brand new Porsche!” exclaimed Nicolas’s son, Manoah, who is very interested in the different players’ cars. With Mika’s autograph in hand, the Oursel family headed home, happy to have made the trip.

After a few drops of rain, which didn’t put off the last fans in line, Mika Biereth’s autograph session ended after 7.30 pm, leaving the fans overjoyed and the player visibly touched by the welcome he received. A successful first meeting that bodes well for the relationship between the Danish striker, whose contract runs until 2030, and the Red and White followers over the coming seasons.