‘Like the Louvre losing the Mona Lisa!’ - Chelsea cursing ‘incredible loss’ of Jamal Musiala to Bayern Munich, says Golden Boy founder

Highly-rated midfielder Musiala spent eight years in the academy system at Stamford Bridge between 2011 and 2019. The Stuttgart-born starlet then returned to his homeland at Bayern and has gone on to become one of the most exciting talents in world football.

Musiala has committed to Germany at international level, having previously represented England up to U21 level, and is a serious contender for the 2023 Golden Boy prize. Massimo Franchi, who brought that award to the world, has told tz of why he is such a big fan of Musiala: “I love him! I love his creative playing style. I really love this young man. The fact that FC Bayern grabbed him from Chelsea almost for free was incredibly clever. An incredible loss for the Londoners. It would be like the Louvre losing the Mona Lisa!”

Musiala is up to 130 appearances for Bayern – claiming Bundesliga and Champions League honours along the way – and Franchi added on his battle with Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham to be recognised as the best player under the age of 21 on the planet: “Musiala is a fantastic player. He actually deserved a small statue for his decisive championship goal last season. But in the first part of the current season he couldn't show off his genius like that, he wasn't such a strong shining sun that can blind you with its light. Bayern were champions, Borussia Dortmund only second: it was absolutely correct that Jamal was in the lead at the start of the Golden Boy race in June. But then the ‘driver’ Bellingham – to use Formula 1 jargon – moved to the ‘Scuderia’ Real Madrid, where he worked magic and is still doing magic. So Jamal has to show something extraordinary - possibly also in the German national team - in order to catch Bellingham on the home straight.”

Bellingham’s bid for the Golden Boy award is said to have been aided by Taylor Swift fanatics, who have decided to back his cause, and the 20-year-old England international has enjoyed a stunning start to life at Real Madrid following his €103 million (£89m/$109m) summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund.