Chelsea adviser Piet de Visser has claimed former manager Maurizio Sarri was instructed to play Callum Hudson-Odoi last season.

Sarri faced backlash from supporters and critics alike over his refusal to play Hudson-Odoi, who handed in a transfer request in attempt to join Bayern Munich.

He recently a new long-term contract, and De Visser has hinted Sarri's departure may have influenced that decision.

"I enjoy young players. Lampard gives six or seven boys of the academy opportunities. That is the future," de Visser told De Volkskrant.

"Hudson-Odoi, he didn't want to sign.

"I told Chelsea: never lose Hudson-Odoi. He will be the new Hazard. But Marina [Granovskaia, Chelsea chief executive] said: he doesn't want to sign.

"And you know why not? Because Sarri didn't play him. Then Sarri was instructed to deploy him, and he was their best player. And he signed for four [sic] years."