HE WAS AMAZING... EVEN AS A LITTLE KID

Boyata recalls his first meeting with Musonda

CHARLY MUSONDA was just 12 years old when he made a big first impression on Dedryck Boyata. The Belgian defender was already a Manchester City player when he travelled to Anderlecht’s academy in the north of Brussels to keep in shape during the close season.

‘Charly was there and I trained with him. He was unbelievable,’ recalled Boyata. ‘I was asking who he was.

‘I was 18, much older than him. I was already thinking about going back to pre-season training with Man City — and he was there.

‘He was playing for Anderlecht at the time and went on to sign for Chelsea.

‘I actually played with his older brothers for the Under-21 national team.’

Musonda is the story of modern football in Belgium. The son of former Anderlecht player Charles, a former Zambian international, he was a target for most of Europe’s leading clubs by the age of 15.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, both Manchester clubs and Chelsea wanted him.

Despite taking a VIP tour of the Barca facilities, he turned down a move to the Nou Camp because Chelsea also wanted to sign his older brothers Lamisha and Tika.

Sent on loan to Real Betis in Spain’s La Liga in January 2016, the deal was subsequently extended to 18 months at the behest of the playmaker himself.

Wary of being parked in Chelsea’s reserves, the 20-year-old is on record saying he wants to play first-team football. Scouring the market for a new lockpicker following the loss of Patrick Roberts, Celtic can cite the example of Moussa Dembele.

Leaving Fulham last summer, the French striker multiplied his transfer value and profile by playing in the Champions League. For players like Musonda, it’s a powerful, persuasive selling point.

‘He is a very talented player,’ added Boyata. ‘The hype around him has been confirmed by the fact he is playing for Chelsea.

‘I have seen him play so many times and I can tell he is a very, very good player.

‘But I think he needs some time to play and really show everyone what he can do.

‘He is a player who can confirm all the hype around him.’

Questions around Musonda tend to concern his physicality. Or lack of.

Yet, a lack of power and height did nothing to harm the effectiveness of Roberts in Scottish football.

‘He is a very skilful player, who can play as a winger or as a No10,’ added Boyata of Musonda.

‘He is very talented around the ball, he has got very good touches. He is small, but actually very quick for his size.

‘I don’t really want to make comparisons to someone else, but he is one who wants to show what he can do.

‘I don’t want to compare, but I can guarantee he is a very good player.’

Boyata bumped into his countryman at Celtic Park back in May, when he made a secret trip to Glasgow to watch a 4-1 victory over St Johnstone.

‘Well, I saw him,’ he said, wary of saying too much. ‘He hasn’t really told me anything because, in his position, players don’t really want to be talking about stuff if it’s not confirmed.’

If he was asked — and it’s hard to believe he wasn’t — Boyata is likely to have provided a positive account of life at Celtic. After a difficult, error-strewn start, the central defender is back as a first pick at Parkhead.

A Ronny Deila signing who looked doomed this time last year, his capacity for a defensive lapse was evident against Rapid Vienna on Saturday when his backpass gifted the Austrians a first-half penalty in a 1-1 pre-season draw.

A shining example of the recuperative powers of Brendan Rodgers, the 26-year-old would have no hesitation about recommending a new life in Glasgow to Musonda.

‘If Charly asks, I will say it’s a great place to be,’ he confirmed. ‘Lately, for me, Celtic has been very good and if anyone asks me my situation today I can only be positive.

‘The Champions League nights are unbelievable. I think everyone should see that experience.

‘You need to be at Celtic Park on Champions League nights. I can tell you that I’ve told him that already.’

Boyata chided himself for the error which prompted Craig Gordon to pull down Joelinton before half-time, with the Brazilian striker converting the spot-kick.

‘I could have avoided the first goal myself with the backpass,’ he admitted. ‘I’m glad this is a preparation game and we are just here to get ready for the big games.

‘I can guarantee it won’t happen again. But it was a good side we played against.

‘It’s tough after a little holiday to get going again but, overall, we got a draw and we can be satisfied with that.’

After a careless, rusty display for 63 minutes, the replacement of the entire team changed things quite drastically.

Celtic levelled when Dembele scored his first goal since March 5 from the penalty spot after Jonny Hayes was fouled.

The upcoming Champions League qualifiers remain the immediate priority, of course, but there are other ambitions within the Celtic squad.

And with a World Cup next summer, Boyata already has Russia in his sights.

‘Playing in the World Cup would be a big dream for me,’ he said. ‘Missing Euro 2016 was the biggest disappointment. It was very, very sad.

‘It’s in the past now. But as a player I can only say that, of course, I am dreaming of the World Cup.

‘I need to take it step by step.’