We remember as if it had taken place yesterday, the press conference organized by Van Holsbeeck in the new Neerpede academy where it would announce “The best news of the year “. It was June 19, 2011 and Sporting was preparing in secret the arrivals of Dieumerci Mbokani and Milan Jovanovic. But in the meantime, Van Holsbeeck announced that he had agreed with the Musonda family to keep it in Anderlecht.
Van Holsbeeck has never made so many concessions for a youngster. Brother Tika (17) had been able to sign a two -year contract, he would join the hopes. The other brother Lamisha (19) had been able to sign a contract of the same duration, he was even taken up in the nucleus A. The mother had received a job in the Sint-Niklaasinstitut school. Anderlecht’s dad and ex-player-equipment manager-had obtained a loyalty bonus of € 500,000. All this to be able to keep the 14 -year -old pearl, Charly Junior. “Our little diamond”declared Van Holsbeeck, all proud. “”Exceptional talent “added President Roger Vanden Stock by raising his glass of champagne.
Barça Masia visit
At that age, the little Musonda had already been compared to the greatest players on the planet. “A mixture between Xavi and Iniesta. And touches of ball from the outside of the foot like Zidane”claimed scouts. Dad Charly shared their enthusiasm. “I had to change the phone number, because the clubs of all Europe do not stop calling me”he smiled at this same press conference. “I admit that we visited the Masia, the Barcelona Academy. But for the evolution of my son, it is better that it remains in Anderlecht.”
At 14, Musonda Junior could not yet sign a professional contract. But Anderlecht had an agreement with the family to keep it until 2018. A seven -year contract for a youngster was unheard of in Neerpede. Even Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku had not received such favors.
Charly Musonda Jr, the former greatest Belgian talent, ends his career at 28 years old
Tika and Lamisha also in Chelsea
A year later, on June 10, 2012, another product from the club – Matthias Bossaerts – posts a message on Facebook which has the effect of a neerped bomb. “Congratulations on your transfer to Chelsea”he says to his friend Musonda. He immediately removed his communication, but the evil is done and the Musonda family must admit that their three sons signed in London. Barcelona (via Boskamp) and Manchester City (via Kompany) had also been forcing – they had invited the Musonda to a match. Charly Junior had even been able to celebrate the title of the Citizens on the lawn. In vain. Unlike Chelsea, Barcelona and City had not offered a contract to the two brothers.
Knife in Herman’s back
Van Holsbeeck, he feels betrayed by the dad Musonda. How did the man with the eternal smile who have always claimed thatrelecht saved his life (Michel Verschueren had refused to go for the national team of Zambia for the match where the plane of his compatriots crashed) was able to plant a knife in his back? Admittedly, Chelsea had paid the training indemnity of € 250,000 and Anderlecht for four times the day when Chelsea wanted to lend her little number 10. But Van Holsbeeck was above all afraid that Charly would be transferred for 100 million to his 28th birthday.
Instead, Charly stops football at her 28th birthday. Johan Boskamp and all the other football teachers must say to themselves that they know nothing about football. Musonda’s failure remains one of the biggest puzzles in Belgian football.
