A former Chelsea wonderkid has admitted he regrets signing a new deal with the club.
Gael Kakuta joined the Blues from French side Lens as an 16-year-old in 2007.
He went on to make his debut two years later, making a total of 16 first team appearances for the club.
The talented youngster also won the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea during his time in west London.
However, despite being highly-rated at Stamford Bridge, he believes he made the wrong decision signing a four-year deal aged 19.
Kakuta penned a contract extension in 2010, but has now admitted he would have been better off leaving the club.
Speaking to SPORTbible back in June, the midfielder explained: “We played in a cup game against Newcastle United [for Chelsea in September 2010].
“I was blowing after about three minutes. I was thinking, ‘How is that possible?’
“Then I got kicked on my back and I couldn’t move. After that I needed to put more work into my fitness levels but realistically it was too late. At that level, it’s too late.
“I was very naive to sign that four-year contract.
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“Instead of renewing, I should have left for another team that would have treated me like a first-team player rather than a youngster who came to the first team.”
Kakuta went on to have six loan spells away from Chelsea, including temporary stays at Fulham, Bolton and Lazio.
He was ultimately sold to Sevilla in 2015 before stints in China and France in the nine years since.
A former French youth international, Kakuta represented DR Congo 27 times at senior level, scoring three goals.
Now aged 33, he joined the 13th club of his career back in August.
Kakuta signed a one-year deal with Iran’s Esteghlal in the Persian Gulf Pro League this year.
He has since made 12 appearances, including against Cristiano Ronaldo in the AFC Champions League last month.
