Eden Hazard’s ongoing fascination with the concept of “pure football” remains a topic of discussion, with his recent comments shedding light on the type of players he admires.
Several weeks ago, the retired Belgian footballer boldly asserted that only Lionel Messi could match him in what he referred to as “pure football.”
In making this claim, Hazard placed himself ahead of Messi’s long-standing rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, acknowledging Ronaldo’s unparalleled goal-scoring prowess while dubbing him the greatest goal-scorer in history.
While reactions to the 33-year-old’s statement vary, Hazard, known for his technical finesse and exceptional dribbling skills, has now singled out a few current players whom he finds intriguing.
He appears to favor players with extraordinary technical abilities, flair, and creativity in addition to goal-scoring prowess.
Notably, he omitted Erling Haaland, the prolific Manchester City striker often criticized for his perceived lack of technique despite his remarkable goal-scoring abilities.
Instead, Hazard highlighted three of Haaland’s teammates at the Etihad, along with Jude Bellingham, an emerging talent making waves in La Liga since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham is poised to have a significant impact in the future.
Hazard expressed his preference, stating, “I don’t watch football for Erling Haaland, but for players like Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish,” as reported by Football Tweet on Mikel Obi’s podcast. Despite Haaland’s acclaim for his goal-scoring prowess, he may not be celebrated for his technical skills.
Hazard also revealed the most talented teammate he has played with during his senior career, and it isn’t one of the more renowned players like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Luka Modric, or Kevin De Bruyne, according to a Sports Brief feature about Hazard.
In an unexpected choice, Hazard named Gael Kakuta, despite Kakuta’s underwhelming tenure with Chelsea, as the best young talent he has ever played alongside.
