Jose Mourinho reveals details of Kevin De Bruyne's Chelsea exit, has no regrets over move

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho shed some details on the much-publicized exit of Kevin De Bruyne, the young Belgian midfielder who left the Blues for Wolfsburg and went on to become the league's MVP last season.

The Chelsea boss spoke about De Bruyne's exit from Stamford Bridge, and said he "was not happy" when he departed the club after demanding more playing time.

"I wanted to keep him and he told me it was not in his personality to be competing for a position in the team," Mourinho told reporters. "He needed a team where he knows he can play every game. He needs to know that he is important. He did not want a team where he thinks, 'Am I playing or not?'"

With such a deep midfield, though, Mourinho couldn't guarantee a starting spot for the 24-year-old - then only 22 - and despite starting in the first few games for the club, a spot on the bench eventually saw De Bruyne's exit saga begin, just two years after the club purchased him from Belgian club Genk.

"I told him: 'This is Chelsea, you are very young, you have Eden Hazard, you have Juan Mata, you have Willian, you have Andre Schurrle so I can not promise you that," Mourinho added. "He told me he was not happy. He was not training very well."

De Bruyne said earlier in the year that he felt he never really had a chance at Chelsea.

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

De Bruyne was voted the Bundesliga player of the year last season, scoring 10 goals and recording 20 assists. He helped Wolfsburg finish second in 2014-15, behind Bayern Munich. Mourinho doesn't regret the move, though, and said that despite the exit, he still has a positive impression of De Bruyne.

"I accept that if this is his mentality and it's his choice to go, it is better for Chelsea to make a good deal," Mourinho said. "Chelsea made a good deal and he was happy to go and I am happy because the kid is a good kid."

Now, De Bruyne has been linked to a number of big clubs, including a mega offer from Manchester City, but Wolfsburg are adamant that they will not be selling their prized midfielder.

"Players have different circumstances," Mourinho said. "We sold him, made our money and it was fantastic because we bought him cheap and sold him for a fantastic price. And now Wolfsburg, if they make a fantastic deal, that is good for them."