Charly Musonda Jr.

[nyikolajevics 2,690]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Chelsea's 'next Eden Hazard' retires aged just 28 after being 'killed' by Blues exit

Former Chelsea wonderkid Charly Musonda left Stamford Bridge in 2022 and just three years down the line, has decided to hang up his boots in an emotional announcement

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/Chelsea-charly-musonda-retire-hazard-35478496

Ex-Chelsea starlet Charly Musonda has decided to retire at just 28 three years after leaving West London. The Belgian winger joined the Blues from Anderlecht in 2012, moving through the Blues’ youth system until his eventual breakthrough.

He made his first-team debut for Chelsea in 2017 and went on to make seven senior appearances for the club. Big things were expected of Musonda and he was even tipped to be the successor to club icon and compatriot Eden Hazard.

But things then went downhill for Musonda in West London after loan spells with Real Betis, Celtic and Vitesse Arnhem. He eventually left the club for nothing in 2022 at the end of his contract, with Levante and Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta then making moves for him.

But he left the latter last summer and has been without a club since. Musonda has now decided to hang up his boots despite having only 63 appearances under his belt.

Speaking on the Rising Ballers podcast, he said: "I've got a big announcement today. It's not easy but it's something I've been thinking about for a long time. After reflecting on my experiences and who I am, I've realised I want to live with purpose to inspire and motivate others."

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal in 'advanced' Gyokeres talks, Man Utd eye old target, Liverpool get Guehi boostREAD MORE: Players ask FIFA to scrap early kick-offs and say Chelsea match should have been called off

Opening up on his time with Chelsea - and eventual exit - Musonda has revealed that his departure from the club was the catalyst behind his downturn in form. He added: "The exit killed me. It killed me mentally. It was the worst thing.

“I was obviously with the reserves at that time so the plan was to pick up with the reserves, get some training in and if there were a few games where I could fit in toward the back end of the season, that was the plan.

"Because I literally had just gotten better. I came back in December-January and was training with the reserves. Feeling amazing, happy to be back—obviously it was a long way for me to be fully fit, but just being able to train was amazing.

"The first team was doing really well. It was COVID, so the buildings were split and you wouldn’t really see the first team. Then toward the back end of the season in the car park I ran into Thomas Tuchel, the manager.

"They were getting ready for the semi-final of the Champions League and he just said, 'How are you feeling? How are things going?.

"It was my first time meeting him. He said, 'I’m looking forward to seeing you back and I said, 'Don’t worry, I’ll be back for pre-season.

"Because in my mind, it was always pre-season and I’d be back with the first team and we’d see from there. So I came back for pre-season and that’s where things got tricky. That was the end of my time at Chelsea."

So, in 2021/22, after years of dealing with injuries and unsuccesful loans, he was still expecting to make it at Chelsea? 😮

Feel bad for him, but even before his major injuries it seemed like he wasn't going to make the cut. Made some nice things here and Betis, but I remember when Conte started to play Hudson-Odoi(who is 4 years younger than him) it seemed clear Charly is just not the same level. 

Similar like Kakuta, Boga, Scott Sinclair.. Insane at youth level, ok at adult football but just not good enough for top top level. 

[Vesper 30,083]

26 minutes ago, nyikolajevics said:

So, in 2021/22, after years of dealing with injuries and unsuccesful loans, he was still expecting to make it at Chelsea? 😮

Feel bad for him, but even before his major injuries it seemed like he wasn't going to make the cut. Made some nice things here and Betis, but I remember when Conte started to play Hudson-Odoi(who is 4 years younger than him) it seemed clear Charly is just not the same level. 

Similar like Kakuta, Boga, Scott Sinclair.. Insane at youth level, ok at adult football but just not good enough for top top level. 

Boga had that one decent season

2019-20, when Covid hit

[nyikolajevics 2,690]

13 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Boga had that one decent season

2019-20, when Covid hit

It was at Sassaulo, right? At Atalanta he couldn't stand out though. Kakuta also had some good periods, was signed by Sevilla, but reached his limits.

 

I feel there is very very little difference between top players and middle club ones, these guys just lacked something.. Outstanding decision making ability, quickness in head, advanced understanding of the game, hard to tell.

I am afraid George will end up the same, very talented, but just misses something to break through.

[NikkiCFC 8,286]

2 hours ago, nyikolajevics said:

 Similar like Kakuta, Boga, Scott Sinclair.. Insane at youth level, ok at adult football but just not good enough for top top level. 

I feel Paez will end up on that list.

[Stats 7,135]

7 hours ago, Vesper said:

Chelsea's 'next Eden Hazard' retires aged just 28 after being 'killed' by Blues exit

Former Chelsea wonderkid Charly Musonda left Stamford Bridge in 2022 and just three years down the line, has decided to hang up his boots in an emotional announcement

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/Chelsea-charly-musonda-retire-hazard-35478496

Ex-Chelsea starlet Charly Musonda has decided to retire at just 28 three years after leaving West London. The Belgian winger joined the Blues from Anderlecht in 2012, moving through the Blues’ youth system until his eventual breakthrough.

He made his first-team debut for Chelsea in 2017 and went on to make seven senior appearances for the club. Big things were expected of Musonda and he was even tipped to be the successor to club icon and compatriot Eden Hazard.

But things then went downhill for Musonda in West London after loan spells with Real Betis, Celtic and Vitesse Arnhem. He eventually left the club for nothing in 2022 at the end of his contract, with Levante and Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta then making moves for him.

But he left the latter last summer and has been without a club since. Musonda has now decided to hang up his boots despite having only 63 appearances under his belt.

Speaking on the Rising Ballers podcast, he said: "I've got a big announcement today. It's not easy but it's something I've been thinking about for a long time. After reflecting on my experiences and who I am, I've realised I want to live with purpose to inspire and motivate others."

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal in 'advanced' Gyokeres talks, Man Utd eye old target, Liverpool get Guehi boostREAD MORE: Players ask FIFA to scrap early kick-offs and say Chelsea match should have been called off

Opening up on his time with Chelsea - and eventual exit - Musonda has revealed that his departure from the club was the catalyst behind his downturn in form. He added: "The exit killed me. It killed me mentally. It was the worst thing.

“I was obviously with the reserves at that time so the plan was to pick up with the reserves, get some training in and if there were a few games where I could fit in toward the back end of the season, that was the plan.

"Because I literally had just gotten better. I came back in December-January and was training with the reserves. Feeling amazing, happy to be back—obviously it was a long way for me to be fully fit, but just being able to train was amazing.

"The first team was doing really well. It was COVID, so the buildings were split and you wouldn’t really see the first team. Then toward the back end of the season in the car park I ran into Thomas Tuchel, the manager.

"They were getting ready for the semi-final of the Champions League and he just said, 'How are you feeling? How are things going?.

"It was my first time meeting him. He said, 'I’m looking forward to seeing you back and I said, 'Don’t worry, I’ll be back for pre-season.

"Because in my mind, it was always pre-season and I’d be back with the first team and we’d see from there. So I came back for pre-season and that’s where things got tricky. That was the end of my time at Chelsea."

That is 2 of our brighter prospects who have had to retire due to injuries. Him and Izzy Brown who were both part of that youth team who said records. So sad. He had so much bad luck with injuries at us and even even after he left. Was always going to be difficult for him. Must be a huge mental challenge for him to kick on, especially when he loves football and I remember his celebration when he scored his first ever goal for us, how much that meant to him. Not surprised by his decision though. He was super talented and you wonder where he would be if not for his injuries.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

2 hours ago, Stats said:

That is 2 of our brighter prospects who have had to retire due to injuries. Him and Izzy Brown who were both part of that youth team who said records. So sad. He had so much bad luck with injuries at us and even even after he left. Was always going to be difficult for him. Must be a huge mental challenge for him to kick on, especially when he loves football and I remember his celebration when he scored his first ever goal for us, how much that meant to him. Not surprised by his decision though. He was super talented and you wonder where he would be if not for his injuries.

I think irrespective of injuries the decision to come here was a huge mistake for him looking back. He was virtually an u23/reserve team player when he could’ve been playing first team football in Belgium - like de Bruyne, Courtois & Lukaku did before moving. Anderlecht are notorious for it also.

There was also a lot of noise regarding Charly’s attitude from his loan spell at Celtic. How true that is, fuck knows, but I think the general jist of it was centred around that he thought he should’ve been playing every week regardless of how well/not well he did in training because he did at Chelsea u18/u23. To have an 18 month loan cut short after 8 appearances is a bit strange.

He wasn’t the only player who now probably realises the error of coming here from clubs which would’ve no doubt given them first team football in that era though. Kakuta probably was another one. 

 

Edited July 3 by OneMoSalah

[OhForAGreavsie 6,057]

1 hour ago, OneMoSalah said:

I think irrespective of injuries the decision to come here was a huge mistake for him looking back. He was virtually an u23/reserve team player when he could’ve been playing first team football in Belgium - like de Bruyne, Courtois & Lukaku did before moving. Anderlecht are notorious for it also.

There was also a lot of noise regarding Charly’s attitude from his loan spell at Celtic. How true that is, fuck knows, but I think the general jist of it was centred around that he thought he should’ve been playing every week regardless of how well/not well he did in training because he did at Chelsea u18/u23. To have an 18 month loan cut short after 8 appearances is a bit strange.

He wasn’t the only player who now probably realises the error of coming here from clubs which would’ve no doubt given them first team football in that era though. Kakuta probably was another one. 

 

These are players from the era when I was watching a great deal of academy football and I have to say that I 100% disagree with you. 

I made my mind up within the first 20 minutes of the first game I watched Kakuta play that he had no chance of a Chelsea career. I think it was a game against Cardiff City 18s at Stamford Bridge. (Can't guarantee that I'm remembering the opposition correctly but it was definitely at The Bridge.) I posted that opinion on more than one fan forum the next morning. 

Izzy Brown I never rated as a Premier League prospect and in fact was pleased for him that he even played a bit of Championship football. Again I frequently posted that opinion at the time. 

Charley M I did not give up on untill he was on loan at Betis but it became clear during his spell there that he was not a top level footballer. He produced one outstanding performance there which raised expectation but spent the rest of his time in Spain desperately trying to recreate that level of impact. The most effective part of his game usually was taking a dive to win free kicks.

It's my opinion that no matter what path those footballers had taken as young men, the destiny of their careers was limited by their talent level, not where they played academy football.