Kevin De Bruyne has told Sport Bild that José Mourinho never offered any explanation for his lack of playing time at Chelsea and said: "Maybe it would have all gone differently if Chelsea had paid €45 million for me instead of €8 million."

De Bruyne left Chelsea for Wolfsburg in January 2014 and has gone on to establish himself as a leading star in the Bundesliga, scoring eight goals and providing 12 assists this season.

 

De Bruyne joined Chelsea from Genk in 2012 but, despite impressing during a loan spell with Werder Bremen in the 2012-13, he was given little opportunity to impress.

Mourinho had suggested during De Bruyne's time at the club that he was unimpressed with his application in training.

"I trained well," De Bruyne told Sport Bild. "Jose Mourinho never explained why I was rarely allowed to play. Maybe it would have all gone differently if Chelsea had paid €45 million for me instead of €8 million to Genk back in 2012. I would have had a different standing, and got more chances."

He added: "In the end, I have to say that, at that time, Chelsea were not good for me. The club is a different world. I was only 22 years old. But I am not mad at anyone."