During a charity match in Calais on Wednesday evening, Eden Hazard revealed the reasons for his retirement and his plans for the future.
At only 32 years old, Eden Hazard chose to end his professional football career last Tuesday. After a brilliant debut with Lillea superb passage to Chelsea and a disappointing ending marred by injuries to the Real Madridthe Belgian international (126 caps, 33 goals) has decided to hang up his boots.
He had the opportunity to put them on again, just to say goodbye, during a charity match organized in Calais on Wednesday evening, he played in particular with Wilfried Mbappé, Kylian’s father. The former Red Devils player took the opportunity to explain the reasons for his decision, with which he feels good. “I’m not going to say difficult but it wasn’t easy. I had been thinking about it for a while so it helped. I have so many things to do outside of football that I was able to make a calm choice”he explained in comments reported by DH Sports.
(📺LIVE) ⚽️ Charity match @VarietesCF
🇧🇪 Eden Hazard for the 3-0!!
🤩🎯 The Belgian is delighted this evening with already 1 goal and 2 assists! pic.twitter.com/wbqEoBDurf— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) October 18, 2023
“Don’t play for money”
The former Lille player also declared that he no longer wanted to play if he no longer enjoyed it, even with an exorbitant salary, like in Saudi Arabia for example. “I always said that I would stop as soon as I no longer had fun on the field. I didn’t want to go play somewhere for the money. It was the best solution. I no longer enjoyed training… and I no longer played. The decision was simple”added Hazard.
If rumors associating him with theUnion Saint-Gilloise have emerged over the last few weeks, the principal concerned admitted that it would have been nice to play for the first time in a Belgian club, but he feels ready to enjoy a normal retirement, punctuated by bike rides, golf course and travel.
