Chelsea loanee at Vitesse Charly Musonda has opened up on his childhood and football background speaking to The Independent:
“I am definitely a street footballer. It’s where I learned to play. The pitches were mostly mud and the grass was very, very long so we learned on the concrete with my dad. There was a lot of tough times growing up.
“My mum and dad always did the best to give us everything but it wasn’t easy. It teaches you to be tough, not just about football, but life as well. You learn to take care of yourself.
“It goes one of two ways: you get out and become a professional footballer or you stay there in the streets.
“I know a lot of kids who had potential but didn’t have someone to tell them what was right and what was wrong. I owe my family everything because without their guidance, especially growing up where we grew up, I would never have gone to a big club.
“I came to Chelsea at 15. And I fell in love with this club.”
Musonda has re-joined Vitesse on loan for the 2019/20 campaign. The 22-year-old was expected to start the pre-season with the Blues but both the club and the player have decided a temporary move to the Eredivisie would be better for the attacker’s development.
After making just one appearance for the Dutch side last term due to injuries, Charly is ready to turn things around next season.