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I used to play rugby but always loved football and want to be a Chelsea legend like Kante

talksport.com, 31 August 2023, 15:40
Chelsea star Malo Gusto has admitted that he used to be a rugby player before taking his love of football into the professional game.

He has also revealed that despite life at the Blues only just beginning, the defender is already setting his sights on legendary status.

Gusto was one of seven new permanent players to complete a move to Chelsea in January, signing from his hometown club Lyon.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season back on loan at the Ligue 1 side before arriving at his new home in west London.

He has featured in all four of Chelsea's opening games this season and assisted two goals in their 3-0 win over Luton last Friday.

Having made it to the Premier League it's clear that he has a passion for football, but he also has experience in another sport.

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Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he said: "My dad encouraged me to play rugby because he played rugby as a kid as well.

"So I started off playing rugby when I was seven but in the meantime, I always played football at school, at home with my mates.

"It's always football that I've preferred and obviously that continues to be the case today."

Gusto is one of seven French players at Chelsea, joining Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Malang Sarr, Lesley Ugochukwu and Cristopher Nkunku as stars from across the channel.

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The Blues have been blessed with talent to have featured for Les Bleus in the past, including Marcel Desailly and Claude Makelele.

However, it's N'Golo Kante who Gusto names as a fellow Frenchman he has admired at Chelsea, a player who won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and various other honours at the club.

Such immense success is something that he wants to replicate as he said: "Chelsea has had some wonderful French players in the past.

"I think one who sticks in my mind in particular is N'Golo Kante who achieved a great deal whilst he was here.

"I guess as the new French kids on the block here at Chelsea, our aim is to become legends as well and to achieve the kind of things he did."

Gusto has been quick to impress at Chelsea, especially filling the void left by injured captain Reece James.

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