A former Chelsea scout Piet de Visser has explained why Jose Mourinho refused to give Kevin De Bruyne a chance at Chelsea.

De Visser told VoetbalNieuws: “I had a battle at Chelsea.

“I thought he (De Bruyne) was the best in the world at a young age. Chelsea had a top coach in Mourinho.

“He only called on experienced players. He thought De Bruyne was too young and said, ‘We can’t use yet’.

“He comes back (from the Werder Bremen loan) and Mourinho says, ‘He’s playing well, but I can’t guarantee him a permanent place’. I stood there and I got furious with Mourinho.

“I said, ‘He’s your best man. Give him the chances. You don’t always have to play him’.”

In response to De Visser’s plea, Mourinho apparently replied, ‘I’m the boss’.

Mourinho’s stubbornness saw De Bruyne leave Chelsea for Wolfsburg in January 2014. Manchester City then signed him in the summer of 2015.