Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi has revealed how Belgium legend Eden Hazard retired from football despite having big money offers to keep playing
The winger called it quits in the summer at the age of 32, after his contract was canceled by Real Madrid.
Hazard endured a miserable last few years of his career, as injuries meant he was barely able to feature for club and country.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe With Five, former teammate John Obi Mikel recalls Hazard telling him: “‘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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Hazard primarily played as either an attacking midfielder or a winger and has been credited as being “possibly the outstanding talent in Europe right now”.
At Lille, under former manager Rudi Garcia, Hazard often played in the latter role in the team’s 4–3–3 formation and regularly switched flanks because he could use both feet. Following the departures of fellow playmakers Yohan Cabaye and Gervinho in 2011, during the 2011–12 season, Garcia played Hazard in a creative role as a central attacking midfielder, while also allowing the player to roam back onto the wing if necessary.
Two of Hazard’s most common exemplary traits are his pace and technical ability, which have been described as “astonishing” and “mesmerizing”. His speed, acceleration, and dribbling skills, combined with his creativity, as well as his flair, balance, agility, and low centre of gravity, courtesy of his diminutive stature (1.73 m/5 feet 8 inches), allowed him to retain possession, take on defenders, and beat opponents in one on one situations.
