Roma ‘eye move for Chelsea outcast Charley Musonda this summer’

Chelsea starlet Charly Musonda has reportedly attracted interest from Jose Mourinho’s Roma ahead of his release from Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old Belgian playmaker will be a free agent in the summer after Chelsea opted not to renew his contract following 10 years at Stamford Bridge.

Roma, managed by former Chelsea boss Mourinho, are among the clubs vying for the player’s signature, according to Goal.

Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in bringing the 25-year-old to AS Roma

Fellow Serie ‘A’ side Hellas Verona are also thought to be interested in signing Musonda, who admitted he broke down in tears when he was told he had no future at Chelsea last year.

Musonda, considered one of Chelsea’s brightest prospects when he joined the club as a 15-year-old, suffered a career-threatening injury when on loan at Vitesse Arnhem in 2018.

Doctors only gave him a 20 per cent chance of playing again after he tore his posterior cruciate ligament in a friendly against Antwerp.

Musonda, who has also had loan spells at Real Betis and Celtic, has battled his way back to fitness after his injury hell and has been fully fit for almost a year but Chelsea have used him sparingly in their under-23 side.

The Belgian announced in December that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge, despite offering to play for the club for free.

He told The Beautiful Game Podcast that it was ‘not my decision’ to go at the end of this season.

Musonda, right, had a successful loan spell at Real Betis but has been overlooked by Chelsea

‘My ambition was always to play for Chelsea and I always said I was either going to leave because I wasn’t good enough or if I was told I have to go,’ Musonda said.

‘Obviously having been out for the last two or three years it was a bit difficult with my injury. I did everything I could, I worked as hard as I could to just be fit, to be able to be a part of the first team in pre-season, which was something I did and I was very happy about it. 

‘I spoke with Petr Cech and he basically explained to me that the contract, it is what it is. There’s one year left and the club won’t let you go on loan if you don’t sign an extension.

‘I don’t really care as long as I can show what I can do here, because I came to Chelsea to try and play here.

‘I spoke to the manager and said I would play here for free. It’s not the question of the contract, so I was disappointed I didn’t play against Weymouth. [I explained] I will literally play for free this year and if I’m doing well then next year we can talk about [an extension].’