Renowned Dutch scout and advisor Piet de Visser has revealed how he argued with Jose Mourinho about Kevin de Bruyne during his time at Chelsea.
De Bruyne is currently regarded as one of the best, if not the best, midfielder in Europe after seven years at Manchester City following a €76m move in August 2015.
The Belgian has very much proved the doubters wrong in England during his time in the Premier League following an unsuccessful spell at Chelsea earlier in his career.
He has joined the Blues in an €8m deal from Genk in January 2012 as a highly rated youngster but was never given his chance by then manager Jose Mourinho.
He would only make nine appearances for the club in total, instead being sent out on loan to Werder Bremen in 2012 before joining German side Wolfsburg on a permanent basis for €22m in January 2014.
He quickly established himself as a rising star in Europe during his time in the Bundesliga and by August the following year he was joining Manchester City in a €76m.
He has more than justified that price tag over the years, with Chelsea now looking very foolish for letting him slip through their fingers.
That’s something De Visser, who acted as something of an advisor to the club over the Abramovich years, admits he tried to avoid.
“I had a struggle at Chelsea,” he told Voetbal Nieuws.
“Even as a young boy I thought he was the best in the world. Chelsea had a top coach with Mourinho for results. He only called on old players. He thought De Bruyne was too young and said: ‘We can’t use him yet. He is good, but too young’.
“He comes back and Mourinho says: ‘He plays nicely, but I cannot guarantee him a permanent place’.
“Then he sank through the floor. He got so angry. He is already red, but that head turned completely red as well.
“I stood there, and I became furious with Mourinho. I said: ‘He’s your best man. Give him the chances! You don’t always have to start him’.”
