Chelsea’s £100million mistake becomes obvious as Euro 2024 highlights major error

Chelsea will be aggravated by their past decision to let Euro 2024 sensation Jamal Musiala join Bayern Munich for a mere pittance. He’s been the standout performer of the tournament so far for Germany.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder was developed by TSV Lehnerz, Southampton and the Blues in his youth, before a reshuffle at Stamford Bridge would see him make a move to Munich to the tune of £170,000 in the summer of 2019. And while it’s reported that the west London club will receive a 20% sell-on clause for Musiala if he ever departs the Allianz Arena, it will be a fraction of his estimated market value of more than £100million (as per transfermarkt).

While it would have been easy for Musiala to be overshadowed by the likes of Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka in Bayern’s midfield, the youngster proved his worth by bagging 12 goals and setting a further eight up for team-mates across all club competitions throughout the last season.

And he shows no signs of slowing down at the European Championships this summer either, already finding the back of the net twice in the group stages. A rocket from the edge of the box would land Musiala his first goal of the competition in their 5-1 Group A demolition of Scotland, before a clinical finish during Germany’s 2-0 win over Hungary on Wednesday would double his tally.

And while Chelsea may feel a wave of regret wash over them as the youngster perfoms incredibly at Euro 2024, it was reported they never actually wanted him to move away. Back in 2019, Musiala believed that Bayern would provide him with a clearer path to the top tier of football than the opportunities he would have received in England.

He therefore turned down a new contract with the Blues to make the move to Bavaria, as per Football.London. And it’s not the first time that the Premier League contenders have let top talent slip through the net either.

Kevin De Bruyne arrived at Stamford Bridge at the ripe age of 20, following a £7m move from Genk in 2012. But the Belgian would spend his first season on loan to Werder Bremen to allow him to continue to develop before playing at the top tier of English football.

Jose Mourinho would only play the central midfielder nine times before he was sold to Wolfsburg for £18m in 2014, but as we now know, it wouldn’t be De Bruyne’s last dance in the EPL. After another season and a half in Germany, scoring 20 goals and providing 37 assists, Manchester City came hunting his services, bringing him to the north for a then club record of £54m.

Chelsea fans will reflect on what could have been with a prime KDB, as he instead lifted six Premier League trophies, five League Cups, two FA Cups, an FA Community Shield and a Champions League with Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.

Musiala’s decision to leave Chelsea would not be the only tough task he has been landed with in his blooming career to date, also having to decide which country to represent at major competitions. Eligible to compete for either England, Nigeria or Germany through his parents, Musiala told Sportschau: “I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England, both hearts will continue to beat – I’ve thought a lot about this question.

“In the end, I listened to my feelings saying it’s the right decision to play for Germany. But it wasn’t an easy decision for me. I had a very good and honest discussion with [former Germany head coach] Joachim Low. He showed me a clear route into the national team.

“Mr Low had clearly worked out and analysed my strengths and weaknesses. He also sees my future in my strongest position of attacking midfield and appreciates my qualities there.”