Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin Du Bruyne has revealed that money was the factor in his decision to leave Chelsea lasy year.
The 23-year-old departed Stamford Bridge for Wolfsburg in the January of 2014 for a £21 million transfer deal, having signed for £6 million from Genk in 2011.
And Du Bruyne, who has impressed in the Bundesliga this season, claims that the valuation of his transfer from Genk restricted his playing time at Chelsea, a club in which he spent two loan spells away from.
“Chelsea has not been the best choice at that point in time then,” he said.
“Being with Chelsea is like being in a different world.
“Manager Jose Mourinho did not explain to me why I was not playing more regularly for the club.
“Things would have been different if Chelsea FC had to pay €45m (£32m) and not €8m (£6m) when I arrived from Racing Genk.
“A higher transfer fee would have potentially handed me a different sort of status inside the club. And, possibly, handed me more chances.”
by Ben Reardon