‘Different class’: Former Chelsea man admits the Blues have let go of four ‘amazing’ players

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Former Chelsea player Mukhtar Ali has commended the talents of fellow expat Tammy Abraham and three others.

Speaking to The Athletic, Ali named Abraham, Jeremie Boga, Dominic Solanke and Charly Musonda amongst the very best players he worked with in the academy at Cobham.

For all of the individuals who have been forged in the Chelsea ranks and gone on to achieve so much in the senior game, Ali and Abraham’s stories have gone in opposite directions.

Who is Mukhtar Ali?

Ali became a Blue in 2008 and was part of the side who lifted the UEFA Youth League trophy in 2019.

That team who defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the final included Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah.

But whilst some have since won Champions League, league titles and appeared at a World Cup, their ex-colleague has instead found a career in Saudi Arabia.

Ali left Chelsea in 2017 to join Vitesse Armen initially on loan, before signing for them permanently.

In 2019, he moved to Al-Nassr, where he was sent on loan again to Al-Tai.

It is certainly a unique journey, one that hasn’t come with the acclaim of the likes of Mount and Chalobah.

Yet, Ali can still look back fondly on those days spent playing alongside some of Chelsea’s success stories, but also those who didn’t quite make the grade.

“I played with some of the best academy players at Chelsea — Jeremie Boga, Dominic Solanke, Charly Musonda were amazing and Tammy Abraham was just different class.”

Tammy Abraham takes flight from Chelsea

Abraham has the right to remember his Chelsea career with care as well, but also one with frustration.

He finally got a stab at the first-team when Frank Lampard took charge in 2019.

The 25-year-old ended that season as the club’s top scorer with 18 goals.

Such a delightful scene turned sour pretty quickly, though.

Not long after Thomas Tuchel replaced Lampard last January, Abraham suddenly found himself at the very bottom of the pecking order.

His position became so untenable, Tuchel allowed the striker to join Roma in August.

It was a deal that thankfully worked out rather well at first.

Abraham netted 27 goals in his maiden campaign, and helped Jose Mourinho’s men lift the UEFA Europa Conference League.