How Chelsea squandered Salah and De Bruyne

Stuart Telford

• 2 Nov 2023 10:05 GMT
• 3 min read

Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne are now two of the Premier League's best ever players, but they could have been doing it for Chelsea…

Salah and De Bruyne both spent time early in their careers at Stamford Bridge, but with first-team opportunities at a premium they left - for Italy and Germany respectively - before making their names at Liverpool and Man City.

Salah is now Liverpool's top scorer in the Premier League with 145 goals, while De Bruyne has inspired City to five English top-flight titles.

READ: Mourinho made Mohamed Salah CRY before Chelsea exit

Popular opinion has it that Jose Mourinho's fierce management style was to blame for the pair not finding their feet in West London, but former Chelsea captain John Terry holds himself accountable.

"It's my one disappointment as captain because I think I adapted over time, when those guys were there I was probably very strong, and very disciplined on the group," he told the Obi One podcast.

Terry: 'that's a regret I have'

"That was probably the first sign where they needed an arm round the shoulder, a sit-down, could I have maybe helped them settle in? For those two players especially, to the levels they've gone to, I'm disappointed in myself as captain, that's a regret I have.

"But I'm delighted they've gone on to be what they've been. I wouldn't have said they would reach the levels they have though. No chance."

READ: Man City lining up Musiala as De Bruyne replacement

Both players could plausibly be playing their final Premier League seasons this year, with the Saudi Pro League circling.

Al-Ittihad bit £150 million for Salah last summer and a similar bid, with only one more year left on the Egyptian's contract, is expected at the end of the campaign.

Al-Nassr reportedly want De Bruyne, and while his departure seems less likely for now, City are understood to have lined up Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala should he leave.