The man known as Misha is a mystery. One of European football's hottest properties, expensively thought.
And now this. A career that promised the Earth has entered a downward spiral. We are now at rock bottom.
Mykhailo Mudryk arrived at Chelsea in January 2023 to much fanfare. An £88million arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian became the poster child for the club's new star-studded post-Roman Abramovich era.
His signing was pulled from under Arsenal's nose and seen as a triumph by Chelsea's American owner.
The Gunners had done everything they could to land Mudryk, but were blinded by Chelsea's millions.
Money is talked about, and in this case, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's millions spoke volumes.
Mudryk and his entourage were given a tour of the workings of Stamford Bridge on match day as he arrived in London to complete his move to the Big Smoke.
The circus created by all this was not the thing of Graham Potter, head coach at the time. On match days, the boundaries of the tunnel and the dressing room are sacred.
But Mudryk was a special case. At least that's what Chelsea's owners thought.
“This is a huge club, in a fantastic league and it is a very attractive project for me at this stage of my career,” Mudryk said at the signing.
If only he knew. Hindsight is of course 20/20; there can be no doubt who got the better end of that deal.
Arsenal have dodged a bullet and become one of the strongest teams in European football without Mudryk.
Chelsea are also – finally – making positive steps under Enzo Maresca. But much of that progress has been made without Mudryk, who has flattered to deceive Chelsea on a consistent basis.
And now news about a positive drug value.
Those who have spent time in Mudryk's company describe a quiet, almost timid man struggling with the trials of life in another country – especially when his homeland is torn by conflict. His knowledge of English is also seen as an obstacle
One person who played and trained with Mudryk describes an easy-going soul who became obsessed with proving himself in Europe's toughest competition. Not only that, he's trying to prove he's worth his price tag.
“He felt the pressure of the transfer one hundred percent,” said the player.
'He was a good trainer, he always did extra in the gym. But the criticism, especially from fans, was difficult for him to bear.'
Others, on the other hand, indicate his preference for a night out; an attraction that is not necessarily unusual for foreign footballers seduced by the bright lights and temptations of capital.
There have been issues behind the scenes that have been swept under the rug due to concerns about his maturity.
But despite the obvious failure to meet his expectations and, certainly, his high price tag, the talent is unquestionable.
Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, Potter and Maresca all have a few stories to tell about Mudryk.
Yet they would also describe a footballer blessed with all the raw materials to become one of the most powerful attackers on the world stage.
That's why the 23-year-old has been given the opportunities he has at Chelsea.
There was some interest from Spain in Mudryk in the summer, but Maresca was by all accounts pleased with what he saw in pre-season.
He was named in the matchday squad ahead of Raheem Sterling for the season opener against Manchester City before starting at Wolves the following week.
He lasted just 45 minutes before being substituted at Molineux. Mudryk has not started in the Premier League since, although he has made six substitute appearances and played in Europe and the Carabao Cup.
Indeed, the lack of first-team football has become a problem for Chelsea, who pay Mudryk around £200,000 a week.
Of course, it's also a problem for Mudryk as he tries to get his once-thriving career back on track.
Those issues pale into insignificance when you compare them to what Chelsea and Mudryk are dealing with now.
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