It's not Mourinho's fault — Kevin de Bruyne gives details on his Chelsea exit
i

Kevin de Bruyne and Jose Mourinho || Image credit: Imago

It's not Mourinho's fault — Kevin de Bruyne gives details on his Chelsea exit

Faruq Ibrahim 00:41 - 07.03.2024

Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne discusses the circumstances surrounding his exit from Chelsea.

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has offered insights into his departure from Chelsea, shedding light on the role played by former manager Jose Mourinho to dispel any misconceptions.

Mourinho's Role Clarified

De Bruyne's departure from Chelsea has often been associated with Mourinho, with fans attributing his exit, along with Mohamed Salah's, to the Portuguese manager.

Kevin de Bruyne in action for Chelsea || Image credit: Imago
Kevin de Bruyne in action for Chelsea || Image credit: Imago

However, De Bruyne has come forward to provide context to the situation, backing Mourinho's claim that he wanted to retain the talented midfielder.

De Bruyne's Account

In an interview with Rio Ferdinand for TNT Sports, De Bruyne revealed the details surrounding his time at Chelsea and the circumstances leading to his departure. 

He explained that while Mourinho expressed a desire for him to stay, things didn't work out as expected. Despite the opportunities available at the club, De Bruyne admitted to feeling impatient and eager to play regularly.

“I signed for Chelsea knowing that I would be loaned out the first year and if I do really well, then we would see what happens,” he said. “I had a really good year at Bremen, then in the summer there was a little bit of tussle. 

“I could have gone to Dortmund with Klopp or stay at Chelsea, Jose wanted me to stay, it just didn't work out, I was maybe a little bit impatient at that time also but I just wanted to play football."

Moving Forward

De Bruyne's decision to push for a transfer ultimately led to successful stints at clubs like Wolfsburg and Manchester City, where he has established himself as one of the premier midfielders in the world. His reflections on his time at Chelsea provide valuable insight into the complexities of player-manager relationships in football.

Related content