Scout Report: Charly Musonda
Country:Â Belgium
Date of Birth: Oct 15, 1996Â (19 Yrs)
Current Club:Â Real Betis (On loan from Chelsea)
Position:Â Attacking Midfield
Chelsea youngster Charly Musonda has suddenly come in to the spotlight after turning down Arsenal and Manchester United in favor of a prolonged stay at Stamford Bridge.
After guiding Chelsea U-21 side to FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League triumphs, Musonda is currently playing for the La Liga side Real Betis, where he has impressed everyone. Since his move to La Liga, Musonda’s value has sky rocketed and he is expected to play some part for Chelsea’s senior side next season.
Amid all the hype and expectation surrounding the 19-year old sensation, we take a closer look at Charly Musondaâs playing style, weaknesses and future prospects as a professional footballer.
Charly Musonda – A brief history
Charly Musonda was born on Oct 15, 1996 at Brussels and immediately inehirated the football culture in his family. Charly’s father Charles Musonda had played over 100 games for Anderlecht.
Charly took the similar steps and became a part of Anderlecht’s youth teams before signing a deal with Chelsea Football club in 2012. Till date, Musonda recalls that decision as the best of his life as the level of training he got at Chelsea was second to none.
Charly Musonda had the option of representing Zambia and Belgium on the International stage with Musonda opting to play for Belgium. So far he has represented The Red Devils’ Under-21 sides and is hopeful of a Euro 2016 call-up in coming weeks.
Charly Musonda – Style of play and strengths
The 19-year old midfielder has made an instant impression with his electric pace, mazy dribbling skills and mesmeric ball control which saw him become a crowd favorite while his time with Chelsea.
The youngster delivered match-winning performances against Manchester City (FA Youth Cup) and Shakhtar Donetsk (UEFA Youth League) to win two trophies for Chelsea’s U-21 side within a space of couple of weeks.
Experts in Spain have come up with a unique name for Charly Musonda and its called “XAVIESTA”. Despite his young age, Musonda is seen as the perfect example of technique and dazzling skills.
Another impressive facet of Musonda’s game is his adaptability of playing in the wide areas as well as from the deep playmaker role. In coming seasons, managers need to figure out the best position for this talented youngster and get the most out of his obvious potential.
Charly Musonda – Weaknesses to be worked upon
While coming through the ranks at Chelsea, coaches had doubts about his defensive contribution, however, the 18-year old soon worked on this weakness and now is an assured player for his manager.
One area Charly Musonda really needs to work on is his physical strength. His game cannot translate to professional level in any position if he stays as slender as he is right now. Musonda needs to gain strength and establish himself as a key player for Chelsea in coming seasons.
Charly Musonda – What does the future hold?
The youngster has recently signed a new 4-year contract with Chelsea which can mean only one thing that he will stay at Stamford Bridge for a long time to come.
Having seen his fellow U-21 teammates (Loftus-Cheek and Traore) get a crack at first team this season, Musonda will be hopeful to break in to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side next season.
If not Chelsea then Musonda will most likely extend his loan spell with Real Betis, where he has made a name for himself. Since joining the La Liga side, Musonda has played full 90 minutes for eight games in a row and has been very successful.
Having seen him evolve in last 6-8 months, I really fancy Charly Musonda to be one of the most exciting players in coming seasons.
Image Credit: Getty, Video Credit: Youtube
