CHERRIES’ record signing Nathan Ake has insisted he left Chelsea for the good of his career – having been accused by Blues boss Antonio Conte of losing patience.

Dutchman Ake last month completed a £20million move to Vitality Stadium after making just 17 appearances in six years at Stamford Bridge.

Ake, who signed for Chelsea from Feyenoord in the summer of 2011, was one of three highly-rated young players to leave the Premier League champions during the summer.

Nathaniel Chalobah, who spent 12 years at the club, signed for Watford, while Dominic Solanke, one of the heroes of England’s Under-20 World Cup-winning team, joined Liverpool.

In a recent interview, Conte defended his treatment of the club’s starlets when he said: “Sometimes, I think the young players lose their patience very quickly — a lot of time because of parents or the people around them. I think the advisors aren’t right.

“The first thing they should have is good patience. Trust the club. Then work very hard to know that to play at this level you must be stronger – and very good.

“Sometimes, young players think they can play easily in the first team, but that’s not true. I have to pick 11 players. Not only me, every coach.”

Ake played 10 times in the Premier League during a fruitful loan spell with Cherries last season before he was recalled by Chelsea in January.

Following his return to Stamford Bridge, he featured just twice in the top flight as well as playing three games in the FA Cup – but was not involved in the final against Arsenal.

Ake was voted man of the match by the sponsors as Cherries lost for the first time in pre-season yesterday, going down 1-0 to a wonder strike by Valencia’s Fabian Orellana.

Asked by the Daily Echo about Conte’s comments, Ake said: “It is a short career.

"I am 22 and have had good experience of playing over the past two years and you just want to continue that.

“I understand what he said but I think we also know Chelsea is a big club and it is going to be difficult to come in and play straight away.

“That’s why I made the decision to come here, to maybe be able to play more games and that’s what I need in my career.

“There are no guarantees anywhere that you are going to get in the team, that’s 100 per cent. You still have to train hard and play well. Hopefully, I can be in the team from the start of the season.

“We have a good squad and a big squad so there is always going to be competition. You just want to do well in training.

“We have trained really well and we are getting better with every game.

Ake, Steve Cook, Harry Arter, Dan Gosling, Marc Pugh and Ryan Fraser all played the full 90 minutes against Valencia.