“If I’d played 50 games at Chelsea, or even 20, I’m not in this position today,” Charly Musonda told BBC Sport.
His lack of minutes at Chelsea left him with limited options. A move to Levante in Spain’s second division was made with promotion in mind but after the club failed to go up on the final day of the season, Musonda says he was pushed out to save on wages.
“In Spain I left early, in Cyprus I wasn’t paid. I had to walk away and leave money behind – still haven’t been paid,” he said.
Musonda smiles throughout the interview and says he is excited about VS1, a new one-versus-one, combat sport-style football league he is working on from his base in Los Angeles.
“Doing what you believe in – that’s happiness. Living with purpose, adventure, things fall where they fall. That mentality comes from my dad. Even when life hit him hard, he always smiled,” he said.
Read more from Musonda’s BBC interview here