Charly Musonda, once predicted to be a future superstar for Chelsea and Belgium, has retired from football at just 28 years old.
The winger joined the Chelsea academy from Anderlecht in 2012 and large things were expected of him, starring within the Blues youth sides that racked up silverware on the time.
Nonetheless, he only ever made seven first team appearances for the Blues, spending time away from the club on loan at Real Betis, Celtic and Vitesse.
Injuries badly hampered the Belgian and he eventually left Chelsea permanently in 2022 for Spanish side Levante, then moved to Cypriot outfit Anorthis a yr later.
Musonda left his final club last yr and has now confirmed that he has hung up his boots for good.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every single day
Get up to search out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we are able to get football news tailored to you.
‘It took a while. I even have been eager about it for the last couple of years,’ Musonda told Rising Ballers. ‘Purely due to my very own experiences and who I’m as an individual.
‘I would like to be doing things with purpose. I would like to encourage and motivate people. I would like to create opportunities. I’m starting something latest that can hopefully help players.
‘Today, I even have made a choice. It’s a choice I even have been wrestling with for a very long time, but I’m going to retire from skilled football. It isn’t a straightforward decision, but I’m build up towards the subsequent stage now.
‘I’ll still be involved in football. In roles to assist players express themselves and giving them a chance to showcase how good they’re.
‘I’m still young but I would like to assist players who don’t have the possibility to showcase their talent.
‘I understand how it feels and with football changing a lot, many players never get the chance to indicate what they will do, I intend to make a difference.’
Musonda’s worst injury was picked up while on loan at Vitesse, suffering a knee problem which left doctors predicting he would never play again.
He did make a return to the pitch and played for Chelsea’s Under-23 side as he built back his fitness, but left Stamford Bridge when his contract resulted in 2022, something which he says damaged him badly.
‘The exit killed me. It killed me mentally. It was the worst thing,’ he said.
‘I used to be obviously with the reserves at the moment so the plan was to select up with the reserves, get some training in and if there have been a couple of games where I could slot in toward the back end of the season, that was the plan.
‘Because I literally had just gotten higher. I got here back in December-January and was training with the reserves. Feeling amazing, completely happy to be back—obviously it was a good distance for me to be fully fit, but just with the ability to train was amazing.
‘The primary team was doing rather well. It was COVID, so the buildings were split and also you wouldn’t really see the primary team.
‘Then toward the back end of the season within the automobile park I bumped into Thomas Tuchel, the manager.
‘They were preparing 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 at all times pre-season and I’d be back with the primary team and we’d see from there. So I got here back for pre-season and that’s where things got tricky. That was the top of my time at Chelsea.’
MORE: Tottenham optimistic about signing Chelsea-linked forward with £85m release clause
MORE: Sporting director responds to claims Chelsea have agreed transfer deal for £55m star
MORE: Man Utd, Arsenal and Tottenham offered Chelsea star after £60m transfer