Eden Hazard has signed a new contract which ties him to Chelsea until 2021, by which time Jose Mourinho feels he could be the best in the world.
The Belgian international joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 for a fee of £32million, and he has already proved to be a shrewd acquisition by the Londoners. Hazard has scored 43 goals and contributed a further 46 assists in 147 appearances for the club in all competitions, helping them to UEFA Europa League glory in 2013 whilst he was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2014.
Hazard has been linked with a return to France, where he previously starred for Lille before heading to England, with Paris Saint Germain said to be willing to smash the bank to lure him to the capital. However, the 24-year-old has now ended all speculation over his future by signing a new five-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge, much to the obvious and understandable delight of Mourinho.
“I am very happy that Eden Hazard has signed a new contract,” said the Portuguese coach, who has started the midfielder in every Premier League match this season. “It shows he believes in the club’s coaching staff and players to help him become the best player in the world. He is already a top player and his evolution has been fantastic. He is still very young and he can become the best.”
By the time Hazard’s new contract reaches its expiry, the current best player on the planet, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, will be 35, whilst his rival at Barcelona, Lionel Messi – who has won the Ballon d’Or three times – will be 32. So if he continues to progress in the way he has over the past few years, then there is perhaps no reason why Chelsea’s number 10 can’t be the number one player in the world.
“I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea,” Hazard said. “The manager has helped me improve a lot, and I have an amazing understanding with my team-mates. I always try to give pleasure to the supporters with my style of play and it is nice to know they appreciate my work. I hope we can repay that support by winning lots of trophies, beginning with the Capital One Cup at Wembley.”
