Jose Mourinho has addressed the departures of Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne from Chelsea, emphasizing that the players chose to leave due to their impatience. Speaking on Jon Obi Mikel’s podcast, Mourinho clarified that he would have preferred to keep both players at the club. Contrary to popular perception, Mourinho asserted that Salah was actually bought by him and that he fought to bring the player from Basel to Chelsea. However, Salah’s desire for immediate playing time led to a decision to send him on loan, and eventually, Chelsea chose to sell him.
Similarly, Mourinho recounted the situation with Kevin De Bruyne during the pre-season in Asia. Despite plans for De Bruyne to go on loan to a German club, Mourinho insisted on keeping him with the team. De Bruyne made his Premier League debut under Mourinho but grew discontented with the playing time he received. This dissatisfaction ultimately led to his desire to leave the club.
Mourinho dismissed the notion that he willingly let go of these talented players, emphasizing that their departures were driven by their own choices. He acknowledged their subsequent success in their careers, indicating that their decisions were validated by their achievements. Mourinho highlighted that, in Salah’s case, he was the one advocating for the player’s acquisition.
In reflection, Mourinho portrayed the departures of Salah and De Bruyne as a consequence of the players’ impatience and their pursuit of immediate playing opportunities. He countered the criticism, particularly regarding Salah, by asserting that he actively sought the player’s inclusion at Chelsea. Mourinho concluded by stating that, despite fan sentiments and revisionist history, the past departures are now settled matters in the history of Chelsea.
