Musonda: 'I would have played for free to prove myself at Chelsea'
Charly Musonda could have been a household name but his story is one of frustration and unfulfilled potential.
Musonda made eight appearances for Celtic [Getty Images] "I won't lie. Mentally, yes, it's been very difficult," the former Chelsea winger Charly Musonda told BBC Sport. Musonda, who retired aged 28 last summer, decided to quit football after a spell in Cyprus marred by unpaid wages - but despite this being a far cry from the start of his career, there is renewed excitement on the horizon.
"One studs‑up tackle cost me four years of my career. Doctors told me I had a 20% chance of ever playing again," he said of the posterior cruciate ligament injury that changed everything in 2018. After nearly four years out, Musonda was fit enough to return for Chelsea but found the club lost faith in him.
Subsequent moves to Levante in Spain and Anorthosis in Cyprus could not revive his ambitions. After his career instability, Musonda, based in Los Angeles, is now working on developing a one‑versus‑one, combat sport‑style football league game. Musonda injured the PCL in his knee, an almost unheard‑of issue in football, when surgery is usually avoided to prevent altering a player's explosiveness or running style.
Two months out became a full season and when he tested the knee again during his loan back at Vitesse, he broke down once more. Seeking answers, Musonda consulted his private doctorand was advised to have surgery. Chelsea initially refused, delaying him another month, but Musonda eventually won the argument.