ABOUT TIME
How Real Madrid finally landed Chelsea ace Eden Hazard for £130m… TEN YEARS after Zinedine Zidane recommended him
EDEN HAZARD is on the verge of becoming a Real Madrid player - ten years after Zinedine Zidane first recommended him to Bernabeu chiefs.
The Spanish giants have agreed a deal worth up to £130million for the Belgian superstar, who will finally get his dream move to La Liga.
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And the 28-year-old is expected to double his money in La Liga, trousering a whopping £400,000-a-week.
But Los Blancos could have saved themselves a load of trouble and money a decade ago if they had listened to their current boss, who was waxing lyrical about the tricky teenage winger at Lille.
Barcelona and Arsenal were tracking the highly-rated star at the time.
But Zidane, who had retired from football but was still working for Real Madrid in an unofficial capacity, spotted his undoubted talent and knew he was destined for the top
Zidane was also hot on the trail of defender Raphael Varane, who he persuaded to snub Manchester United and move to the Bernabeu in 2011.
He told then president Florentino Prez to sign the 19-year-old Hazard knowing he would be a world star in years to come
However, they passed up the chance as they were in the process of landing ready-made talent like Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Karim Benzema from Lyon.
At the time the current Real boss told media outlet De Morgan: “I would take Hazard to Madrid with my eyes closed."
Two years later when the Ligue 1 side were ready to cash in on their prized asset, Los Blancos, managed by Jose Mourinho, opted for Luka Modric and allowed Chelsea to land one of Zidane’s favourite players.
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Hazard has gone on to make 245 appearances and score 85 goals for the Blues, helping them win two Premier League titles.
The Belgian signed off in style by scoring twice as Chelsea beat Arsenal to win the Europa League.
Hazard will finally link up with his hero Zidane next term and will be joined by Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, while the club are still pushing to land Manchester United’s Paul Pogba.
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