Former Chelsea star De Bruyne reveals his main reason why he left Chelsea.
“Wolfsburg was different because I just wanted a new challenge and not be loaned out because that system is really tough for people,” De Bruyne told BT Sport.
“They don’t always understand – when you do a few loan spells and come back to the team you know people are still doubting, saying ‘he’s a young player, is he going to make it.’
“In my mind, I had played four years in Belgium, a year in Germany, had 160-180 games under my belt plus national team experience, so you’re not thinking like a young boy at 18 anymore who is just happy to get a game.
“I didn’t get a chance at Chelsea and I decided I needed a new team. Wolfsburg really wanted me.” In his two years at the club, De Bruyne made just nine appearances for the Blues despite impressing on loan at Genk and Werder Bremen.
In January 2014, he moved to Wolfsburg in a deal believed to be worth £18m, meaning that the Blues made a profit of more than £10m on the Belgian.
The creative midfielder returned to the Premier League two-and-a-half years later. He has since been a crucial player for Man City with six domestic honours to his name, including two Premier League titles.