Former Chelsea icon Florent Malouda has urged Mykhailo Mudryk to follow the example of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr after a stuttering start to his career at Stamford Bridge. The Ukraine international joined the club from Shakhtar Donetsk in January on a deal that could be worth up to £88.5million.
With the spotlight on the winger after a transfer saga that included a heavily touted switch to rivals Arsenal, Mudryk struggled to hit the ground running. The 22-year-old has one assist to show for his nine Premier League appearances so far as he adjusts to the new surroundings.
The Sun reported last week that in an attempt to help Mudryk settle in London, his family are set to move to the capital city to keep him company. It remains to be seen if those lifestyle changes will aid his efforts on the pitch, but there's still plenty of promise for the forward to fulfil.
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Amid question marks over his early days at the club, former player Malouda has told the youngster to follow the example of a star he could face in the Champions League. That being Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr, who has risen to the very top of the game with his ability.
Speaking to ICE 36, Malouda said: "He [Mudryk] is very talented. When he made his debut, he looked so impressive when he came on [against Liverpool]. I think he came into that game fresh, full of confidence and we could all see his huge potential.
"My message would be, you’ve chosen the challenge of playing for Chelsea, which is a massive club, but look at the example of Vinicius Jr. I think that is a good comparison to make and also the right example for him to follow. As a reference point, he should look at how he has developed.
"I think Mudryk can have the same impact for Chelsea as Vinicius has for Madrid. He needs to work hard, have the right mentality - he can become a leader in the Chelsea team if he shows the right ambition. I hope he believes in himself as much as the club believes in him."
Chelsea face Real Madrid in the Spanish capital tonight (Wednesday) before the return leg at Stamford Bridge on April 18.
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