Chelsea's 'next Eden Hazard' retires aged just 28 after being 'killed' by 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
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."
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."
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd star's 'marriage over' as ace 'sick of model wife's spiritual lifestyle'
Matthijs De Ligt married stunning Dutch model AnneKee Molenaar last summer, but the couple have reportedly split after just a year of marriage, with the Manchester United defender said to be 'sick of her spiritual lifestyle' Manchester United's Matthijs De Ligt is reportedly parting ways with wife AnneKee Molenaar, just a year after they got married. The 25 year-old defender married the gorgeous Dutch model last summer in an intimate ceremony. His transfer to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich and the Netherlands' journey to the Euro 2024 semi-finals both occurred last summer too, meaning the couple were planning to celebrate their nuptials this month with a grand party in Italy, surrounded by friends and family. However, according to Dutch outlet DenD, the party was abruptly cancelled. It's claimed that De Ligt has jetted off to Barbados without AnneKee, 25, after spending last week alone in Ibiza. A source close to the pair has, it's claimed, stated that their marriage is over. "Initially, there was talk of 'some time for themselves' and holidaying separately, but it is now reportedly definitely over," DenD reported, via Realityfbi. "Matthijs is said to have travelled to Ibiza alone this week and was in Barbados for this." According to Realityfbi, De Ligt is said to have grown increasingly bothered by his wife's spiritual lifestyle. "Apparently, Matthijs can no longer handle Annekee's exaggerated 'spiriwiri-content'", the channel reported last week. The model's Instagram is a treasure trove of bizarre posts, including one with an alien spaceship emoji caption, snaps of her browsing for gemstones and crystals, delving into tarot fortune-telling books, and donning a top emblazoned with a cannabis symbol. She also has her own "Alchemia" page and business. "Alchemia" is the Italian and Polish word for alchemy, the ancient chemical practice focused on transmuting base metals into gold and discovering the elixir of life. AnneKee's Instagram still showcases photos of De Ligt, yet it's been seven weeks since the United centre-back last featured in her social media updates, following a date night they shared. The couple's romance sparked in Amsterdam as the towering 6ft 2in defender was cutting his teeth with Ajax, but it wasn't until 2023 that he popped the question. Their wedding was timed around the Champions League final, which saw the groom dash that evening to join the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024 that very evening. "It's actually funny because the way the planning for our civil wedding went is a reflection of our relationship in general," AnneKee once quipped to Dutch Vogue. "At first, we planned to get married at the end of May, on our anniversary, but then it looked like Matthijs would make it to the Champions League final with Bayern Munich. So, we had to reschedule everything at the last moment."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Maresca's search for unpredictability lies behind Chelsea's transfer strategy
When Enzo Maresca became Chelsea's head coach last summer, those who had studied the Italian's tactics at Leicester predicted his appointment would accelerate the end of Ben Chilwell's time at Stamford Bridge. 'Enzo doesn't play with a left-back,' a source said. 'Chilwell won't be able to do what Enzo wants. He just won't play him.' The prediction was spot-on, with Chilwell quickly discounted from selection. It was nothing personal, though. The logic was merely that Maresca does not play with a conventional back four in possession but wants one full-back inverting and the other shifting inside to play as an extra centre-back in a 3-2-4-1 system. It is far from foolproof, as anyone who saw Malo Gusto's disastrous first-half turn as an auxiliary midfielder in the Conference League final against Real Betis will confirm. Yet Maresca has his way of playing and is comfortable without overlapping full-backs. He has often had speedy wingers playing high, tasked with going one-on-one against a defender. Marc Cucurella has been the inverter from left-back. Instead of being a rampaging force from right-back, Reece James has often drifted infield. The effect is numerical superiority in the middle. The drawback is that wide players become isolated in Maresca's team. Chelsea often struggled against low blocks during the second half of last season, particularly if it was a back five, and there was a lot of discussion about whether Mareca's football was overly rigid. Qualification for the Champions League became a grind. Chelsea finished fourth and won the Conference League but there was an issue to address. How to be less predictable? Ponder that for a moment and the decision to derail Newcastle's move for Brighton forward João Pedro becomes easier to understand. There will inevitably be accusations of stockpiling. The attack was already well stocked before Liam Delap joined from Ipswich and a deal for the Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens was agreed. There's also Estêvão Willian, who joins from Palmeiras after the Club World Cup, and suggestions that Chelsea could sign another forward. They continue to monitor the Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and like West Ham's Mohammed Kudus because of the Tottenham target's ability to play in three positions. Delap and Gittens were far obvious moves than João Pedro, though. Delap was needed to provide healthy competition for Nicolas Jackson up front and Gittens fills a hole given that Chelsea need at least one right-footed left-winger. The left-footed Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke are uncomfortable fits on the left. They prefer cutting inside from the right. Estêvão is another left-footer who cuts inside. Chelsea know something has to give. Geovany Quenda, another gifted young winger, joins from Sporting next summer. No wonder Chelsea will listen to offers for Madueke. A mission to trim the squad is under way; the arrival of João Pedro in a deal worth more than £50m is expected to result in Christopher Nkunku leaving. Nkunku scored the winner when Chelsea beat Benfica in the last 16 of the Club World Cup but he is not quite right for Maresca. João Pedro is regarded as a better profile than the France forward and João Félix, who is also out of favour. Perhaps he will complement Cole Palmer, lifting the creative burden on Chelsea's main man. Palmer needs opportunities to rest. It is going to be another gruelling campaign and Chelsea are mindful about the Champions League increasing the demands on their squad. Maresca will have to rotate more in the league and he will benefit from having different modes of attack. There is no point having an array of speedy wingers if they are effective only in transition. Chelsea need different angles in attack. They are probably not going to get much intricate link play from Delap, who is more of an old-school No 9. Jackson is better at dropping off, turning and playing reverse balls – as he did for Neto's goal against Los Angeles FC – but is more chaotic. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion João Pedro offers a different profile. He presses well, drops deep and could play with Palmer as a second striker. The Brazilian was adept at receiving possession and releasing Brighton's wingers with clever angled passes. He could do the same for Gittens and Neto. Chelsea will hope they are signing a player who can draw negative opponents out, move defences around and create space for others. It is not the obvious move, but it feels like a canny one. It is about options and collaboration. Neto has three goals in three appearances at the Club World Cup and is loved at Chelsea for his work rate. João Pedro's output at Brighton was nothing spectacular – 30 goals and 10 assists in 70 appearances – but Maresca wants his attack to share the load and become more versatile. It helps to explain why Maresca has experimented in the US, hitting on a 3-2-4-1 in possession against Benfica, with Palmer's role as an inside-left leaving space for Cucurella to maraud. Predicting Chelsea's starting XI will become almost impossible. The system will be complex, leaving no space for someone of Chilwell's profile. Sometimes it could be heavy on wingers, at other times there could be two No 10s. For a shape-shifter such as Maresca, it seems variety is the spice of life.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Swansea City make €1m offer for Brazilian star as report emerges and transfer latest revealed
Swansea City make €1m offer for Brazilian star as report emerges and transfer latest revealed The Swans were believed to be keen on adding the centre-back to their ranks this summer David Sousa pictured in action during a soccer match between Royal Francs Borains and RWD Molenbeek (Image: Getty Images ) Swansea City have reportedly had a bid knocked back for Molenbeek's Brazilian centre-back David Sousa. According to The Athletic, the Swans made an offer worth £858,000 for the 23-year-old, which is believed to be below the Belgian club's valuation. Sousa currently has one year left on his current deal with Molenbeek, where he was a regular last season, making 28 league outings. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here. It seems he's seen as an important first-team player by his current employers, but Swansea are believed to be reluctant to match their asking price. As such, the deal now isn't expected to progress any further. However, the Swans are still keen on bringing some new faces into the building before the start of the season, having already brought four new signings on board this summer. Article continues below Centre-backs Cameron Burgess and Ricardo Santos have already arrived, while Bobby Wales and Zeidane Inoussa have helped strengthen Alan Sheehan's attacking options. Playmaker Melker Widell, who signed in January, has also linked up with the squad after he was loaned straight back to former side AaB. Another defender is among the list of current priorities heading into the next few weeks, ideally one capable of filling in at either full-back or wingback, with Josh Tymon, Josh Key and Sam Parker currently the only wide defensive options. A central midfielder is also high on the list. Lewis O'Brien is still very much a figure of keen interest, but while rivals Hull City are reportedly ready to move on to other targets, a move to south Wales still appears unlikely at this stage given the level of competition for his signature. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to want a figure close to £8m for O'Brien, a valuation that would clearly be beyond the Swans, but there's already a feeling his stance could soften. Whether O'Brien's value could come down to a point that's considered doable for Swansea remains to be seen, however. Elsewhere, Leyton Orient's Ethan Galbraith is still on the radar after the club made further enquiries this week, while Israeli midfielder Gabi Kanichowsky has also been the subject of interest this summer. Both, however, are merely among a number of options that have been considered. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone. Swansea's search may well go up a notch should any departures materialise. Ollie Cooper has already been linked with an exit, while there have similarly been question's over Jay Fulton's future. The same can be said for returning loanee Jerry Yates, who seems likely to leave should the right offer come in this summer. Article continues below With Mykola Kuharevich already out the door, a move for Yates would likely accelerate the search for a striker, with Oli McBurnie among the options currently being considered.
