Caroline Lijnen: Kevin De Bruyne's ex DID have fling with Thibaut Courtois - after ex-Chelsea star cheated on her

Kevin De Bruyne's ex-girlfriend has admitted she had an affair with Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut
Courtois - but insists it was only after De Bruyne had cheated first.

Former Chelsea winger De Bruyne wrote in his book Keep It Simple that Belgian stopper Courtois stole Caroline Lijnen from him, causing a volatile rift between the two international team-mates.

He even claimed that Belgian boss Marc Wilmots asked him whether he should drop Courtois from the national side as a result.

But, having maintained her silence ever since the allegations against her were made, Ms Lijnen has now responded suggesting she only left De Bruyne when he himself cheated on her.

"In the summer of 2012, Kevin told me that he had an affair with my old best friend. I gave him the choice: her or me," she told Belgian newspaper Sport.

I was ready to give him another chance, but our relationship was never the same afterwards."

Ms Lijnen says she met Courtois in Madrid, a visit apparently given the full backing by her then boyfriend, but one thing led to another.

"Thibaut gave me in that one night, what I'd sorely missed for three years with Kevin," she added.

"With Thibaut I could have good conversations and he also cooked nicely for me. Such a thing Kevin never did. And then suddenly we clicked.

The two players were both on the books at Chelsea from 2012 to 2014, but never played together, as both were out on loan.

Courtois spent three years on loan at Spanish side Atletico Madrid before returning this summer, six months after De Bruyne had left the club when German side Wolfsburg paid £18million to secure his services on a permanent basis, following a successful loan spell.

The move happened after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho talked up De Bruyne's future at the club following earlier claims that he had not been pulling his weight in training.

"Kevin is showing desire and working very hard," said the Blues boss in December 2013.

"I've learned now how to like him, also, as a kid. He's a good kid and he's showing he's a good professional. Hopefully I can give him enough time on the pitch so he decides to stay in a happy way."

A month later, De Bruyne had been sold and later said: "I didn't leave Chelsea because I have to go to the World Cup - it could be over after three games - but just because I lost my joy."