Having impressed during a loan spell at Werder Bremen, De Bruyne's return to Chelsea coincided with the start of Mourinho's second stint at Stamford Bridge but the 23-year-old was unable to secure a regular first-team place and was offloaded to Wolfsburg during last season's January transfer window.
De Bruyne, who has been linked with a summer move to Manchester City, has scored nine goals and registered 16 assists in the Bundesliga this term, and Hazard suggests his compatriot is thriving under less pressure in Germany.
"Chelsea would have been stronger if we kept De Bruyne, he is a great player," Hazard told L'Equipe. "But Mourinho decided to let him go and not play him.
"It was not my decision, even though I am certain that he could have thrived at Chelsea because he has tremendous qualities. Though I think at Chelsea you have more pressure than Wolfsburg.
"I would have loved to still play with him at Chelsea, but him getting first-team football is good for him - you can see what it's done for Thibaut Courtois. It's a shame he's gone but he'll surely have a successful career."
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