Gary Neville has said that he 'admires' former Cobham star Jamal Musiala for leaving Chelsea to search for first-team opportunities in the Bundesliga. The 19-year-old, who left the Blues for Bayern Munich three years ago, has impressed for Germany at the World Cup thus far, earning comparisons to Lionel Messi.
Musiala has started in each of his nation's World Cup group stage clashes against Japan and Spain. While Hansi Flick's side are yet to pick up a win in Qatar, the midfielder's dazzling performances have left England - and Chelsea supporters alike - to rue his decision to snub the Three Lions.
Until the age of seven, Musiala lived in Germany, winning many tournaments as a junior with TSV Lehnerz. Then, shortly after, he travelled to Southampton where he would continue his development - but not for footballing reasons.
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His mum Carolin enrolled in a four-month Erasmus programme at the University of Southampton as part of a master's degree at Frankfurt's Goethe University. Musiala was later picked up by Chelsea where he plied his trade at Cobham training ground until deciding to join Bayern Munich, aged just 16.
The teenage sensation, who was born in Stuttgart, represented England from under-15s to under-17s before featuring for the under-21s at the age of just 17. While he earned his stripes for the Three Lions across various junior age groups, Musiala also appeared for Germany under-17s at the age of 15.
Speaking to Bein Sports, Neville said: "I admire these lads that leave. [Jadon] Sancho leaving [Manchester City], Musiala leaving [Chelsea].
"I think the fact that they are willing to go to Germany. To Dortmund and to Bayern Munich and experience that different level. Bellingham at Birmingham. Manchester United had Bellingham in the building. In front of all the top brass at Man United and he choose to go to Dortmund. But look at him now."
The former Manchester United defender continued by encouraging more young English players to seek first-team football abroad. Neville added: "You think of English players have stayed in England for far too long and we have a good league.
"But all the other players of other nationalities go and play in Spain, in Italy and have these great experiences and I think English players need to do that. I think Musiala, Bellingham and Sancho. Well done to them.
"Chelsea have [Christian] Pulisic, [Kai] Havertz, they had [Timo] Werner, there are loads of them, isn't there? [Mason] Mount. [Hakim] Ziyech. [Conor] Gallagher.
"They have five or six players in the position of Musiala's, they are probably thinking 'we are okay'. A year or two ago. Managers at Chelsea couldn't wait two or three years to bring something through, anyway."
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