Kevin de Bruyne has finally opened up about his exit from Chelsea in 2014, saying that he still believes that Jose Mourinho was wrong about him - and that he's proved it in the last two years.
In an exclusive interview with theMail, De Bruyne said he has no problem with Mourinho - now at United - but claimed he was ready to play for the Blues when he was moved on to Wolfsburg.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE EXCLUSIVE: Why should Pep change just because he has come to England? https://t.co/6mXM9aAh3G pic.twitter.com/bBp4vvyY0j
Now back in the Premier League with Manchester City, De Bruyne said of his Stamford Bridge exit: "I couldn't say anything before as I wasn't playing.If he [Mourinho] says something to the press they are going to believe it because at that moment it was the only thing they had to listen to ” the only evidence there was.
"But I don't think I am like he said. I always want to play. I have played hundreds of times in my career and I am only 25. So I think I have answered it quite well.
"At the time at Chelsea I had already many, many games under my belt. I didn't feel I was like a normal 20-year-old because I had already played for years in Belgium and then on loan from Chelsea in Germany.
Kevin De Bruyne (knock on the calf) won't play against Man United tomorrow. Uncertain for the weekend too. #mcfc
"I think they (Chelsea) had a different view than I had of myself. I was young but also experienced. If I had come through the youth then maybe I would be happy to play 10 games there.As far as I was concerned, I was ready to play. I have read that, for them at Chelsea, I was too young, but in my mind you are never too young. If you are ready you are ready.
"I think Eden Hazard was the same age as me when he played so it's a little bit strange to say this guy is young and the other guy is old enough to play. It's just another way of saying that somebody isn't good enough."
He added: "I have no problem with Jose.In some ways it was a good experience. It's the only experience of not really playing and it gave me another aspect, to realise how to conduct yourself."
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