Eden Hazard reveals he almost joined Manchester United and two other clubs before Chelsea
WikimediaEden Hazard retired earlier this season and his time at Chelsea saw him go down as a bona fide club legend at Stamford Bridge.
The former Belgium international scored 110 goals in 352 appearances for the Blues and helped them win six major trophies, including two Premier League titles during his seven years at the club.
Hazard was also named the PFA Premier League Player of the Year in 2015 and he is in anybody’s argument to be among the best Premier League players of all time.
His move to Real Madrid in 2019, ultimately, failed to match the heights he had reached in West London but he almost never moved to Stamford Bridge at all.
Hazard held talks with three Premier League clubs before signing for Chelsea
After deciding to leave Lille at the end of the 2011/12 season, Hazard had decided to make the move to the Premier League.
He held talks with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as Man City and Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea were not even in the discussion, until they won the 2011/12 Champions League against all odds to ensure their qualification to the competition again the following season.
“I had a chat with Sir Alex Ferguson,” Hazard revealed on the Obi One podcast.
“I spoke with Harry Redknapp, (who at) that time was the manager of Tottenham. I went to Manchester to see the Man City training ground.
“So I had a few options but not Chelsea because at my last year in Lille, Chelsea in the league was not that good. You know when you won the Champions League, you were like sixth or seventh.
“I knew I was leaving France to go to the Premier League but not Chelsea because I wanted to play Champions League. That move came because you won the Champions League.
“Chelsea was far away. That is why I say thank you to Drogba.”