20 November 2023 , 18:32
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Eden Hazard was offered a £50million contract to play in Saudi Arabia before opting to retire, claims former team-mate John Obi Mikel.
The Belgian's career had stalled after leaving Chelsea in 2019 and he'd endured several injury-hit years with Real Madrid that eventually took their toll. Hazard decided to hang up his boots, but before doing so had to contemplate a lucrative offer from the Middle East.
Clubs in the Saudi Pro League underwent a major recruitment drive back in the summer, capturing several big names, some of them at their peak, others in the twilight years of their careers. Hazard would've been the latter, but he chose to turn down the huge sums.
Mikel told Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five YouTube show: "[Hazard asked,] 'Should I go to Saudi Arabia, where I’m going to take a million a week... and then what? I got about two or three offers to go to Saudi Arabia.
He said, 'Mikel, I’ve got a lot of money. You know how I live my life. I don’t spend too much money. So, I have money now to live with my family and to bring up [my children]'.'"
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It was at Stamford Bridge that Hazard produced the best football of his career. The playmaker captured Europe's attention when he was twice named the best player in France, winning Ligue 1 with Lille. That convinced Chelsea to sign the talented Belgian.
In England he helped the Blues win two Premier League titles, being named the PFA Player of the Year back in 2015. He also won the FA Cup and the League Cup. Mikel commented that Hazard often trained poorly, which leaves you wondering how good he could've been.
Eden Hazard called time on his career in the summer (Getty Images)The Nigerian joked: "He achieved all that he achieved without putting in effort, imagine if he did. This guy comes to training and he doesn't tie his boots up, he just stands there with his hands in his pants."
Hazard became an increasingly peripheral figure at the Bernabeu as he failed to recapture the form that he showed in England. Real's hefty investment failed to pay off with the player himself even apologising for his lack of form and he decided that the time was right to end his career.
He said on social media: “You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer. I was able to realise my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world."