From playing rugby to Chelsea’s first team in 11 years – the rise of a top talent | OneFootball

Chelsea are doing a really nice series of pieces with various players about their rise to the top of the world of football, something we’re always fascinated by.

Most of us have memories of playing football as a youngster and imagining going pro – so it’s interesting to hear how those journeys actually pan out for those gifted enough to make it all the way.

Compared to the bitter sacrifices and challenges we’ve heard about from some players, Gusto’s journey seems quite straightforward and pleasant.

After starting his sporting career playing rugby he started playing organised football relatively late considering he went on to be a top professional. He started playing for a local team at ten years old, after a couple of years moved to a bigger local team, and then almost right away went into the Lyon academy. He lived on site and enjoyed his time here:

“I was 13 when I joined the Lyon academy,” recalls the right-back in his interview.

“I left my parents’ house and moved on site. It was easy to get to training! I had a good relationship with the other guys. I missed my parents, for sure, but it was not like I was crying every day and I wanted to go home. I was there, I had worked to be there, I wanted to be there, and I had just had to enjoy it, do my best and see what happened after.”

A teenage Malo Gusto playing for Lyon.

Good parenting leads to good people

It sounds like Gusto’s parents played a major role in his development, and they deserve credit for raising such a good kid. Still just 21, Gusto seems far older because he’s so mature, both on and off the pitch.

He strikes us as a really good character as well as a good player, and we hope he sticks around in the dressing room for years to come.