Over the years Chelsea have had a very underrated youth academy in Europe. They have developed and nurtured a lot of talented young players but their lack of planning means most of them are allowed to join different clubs leaving the Blues academy or either sent on loan to the Eredivisie. Recently Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount shared a very personal story where he was hurt when his England teammate Declan Rice left the Blues academy eight years ago.
Currently at West Ham United, Rice is one of England’s most established midfielders in the Premier League along with his compatriot and close friend Mason Mount who now features in the Chelsea starting eleven every week. The two English young midfielders grew up together at the Chelsea academy only to see their paths get divided and that made Mount very emotional.
The Blues Academy failed to judge the quality that Declan Rice had in him and hence the Englishman joined West Ham United where he made his senior team debut in the Premier League and is now donning the captain’s armband since Mark Noble’s retirement a few months ago.
Recently in a podcast, Mount opened up on his feelings when Rice was left out of the Blues Academy. He shared, “When Dec [Rice] went it was tough. You know how close we are, but it kind of made me want to do it even more. I was gutted that he left and I felt like he shouldn’t have left. I just wanted to do it even more for him as well.”
The Chelsea midfielder went on to add how he knew that Rice was going to be a great footballer and an even better person. “I knew the path he was going to go on and what type of person he is. I knew he was going to make it his own way. But it’s mad how the journey works.”
Once again it is proven how life works in mysterious ways, a player who was left out from their academy has turned into one of the best in the world in that position. So much so that even Chelsea are interested to sign the English international to fill up their void in midfield.
Declan Rice has received several offers from all over England but he has stayed with the Hammers. His current contract runs till 2024 and it looks like he will honour that as he will leave behind a great legacy at a great club if he intends to leave for a new challenge in a couple of years’ time.
