Eden Hazard: Kevin De Bruyne will be out for revenge after Manchester City move

De Bruyne, 24, joined Manchester City from Wolfsburg for a fee in the region of £54 million in August – just 18 months after leaving Chelsea for the Bundesliga following an unhappy spell at Stamford Bridge.

His Belgium teammate may now be playing for one of Chelsea’s biggest rivals for the Premier League title but Hazard is confident De Bruyne has all the attributes required to be a huge success in the English game – and expects memories of his difficult first stint in the country to act as motivation this time around.

"He has the qualities to impose himself,” Hazard told L’Equipe. “He showed last season at Wolfsburg that he is a great player.

"He has something to prove [in England].”

Speaking while on national team duty, the former Lille attacker could not help noting that De Bruyne’s club situation may well end up benefitting Marc Wilmots’ side.

Hazard added: “[His desire to impress at City] can only be good for the national team."

The reigning Premier League player of the year also admitted he also had work to do after a subdued start to the campaign.

“You don't need to know a lot of about football to compare what I was doing last year to what I am doing this season," he said.

"I am less good. It is more a team problem that individual.

"We are professionals, we knew that this season would be more difficult. We are reigning champions.

"It is complicated because everyone wants to beat you. But we have, in the squad, the qualities to bounce back.”

Meanwhile De Bruyne's father, Herwig, indicated that his son would feel an extra happiness if he did manage to score against his former club at some point in the future.

“Kevin will have no more to prove against Chelsea than he will against Swansea - he does not want to provoke anyone," Herwig said. "But should he score against Chelsea, he will say in his heart ‘Yes, now I have you.’”