Kevin De Bruyne has revealed the rationale for leaving Chelsea when Jose Mourinho decided that the Belgium international was not needed in his team.

The midfielder severed ties with those at Stamford Bridge in January 2014, having previously headed through the exits to take in a loan spell at Werder Bremen in 2012-13.

His stock soared in German football, having struggled to make an impact in west London, and he admits to having hit a career low as he bid farewell to England.

De Bruyne has told Sky Sports on his reasons for leaving Chelsea: “I decided to go away because I felt I didn’t have any chances of playing at the time.

“I didn’t see more opportunities coming so for me, it was the best decision to leave Chelsea and go to a situation where I felt I could start again.

“Did I expect it to go this way? Obviously not because at that time it was a low point in my career but I never had any doubt in my abilities as a football player.

“I can’t think what is going to happen eight years down the line playing for City, in World Cups and all that stuff. It’s wonderful.”