What Hazard really said: ” At Arsenal you have Wenger, Vermaelen and the beautiful game….” « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
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By Walter Broeckx
Earlier this week I have heard a part of the world coming to an end because some rumour told that Eden Hazard would go to Tottenham. The rumour was spread by a French magazine.
I have now been able to put my hands on an interview that appeared in the Belgium football magazine Sport/Foot Magazine. It is a magazine written in French and as Hazard is from the French speaking part of Belgium the interview was done in French and so it will not be lost in translation.
So here we go.
Intro: After an exceptional year 2011 with Lille, Eden Hazard will certainly leave France for England late in the season. For which club? Tottenham has been cited, but Arsenal, Wenger and Vermaelen is still favoured by the prodigy of the Red Devils.
2011 was the year of Eden Hazard: title of best player in the championship of France which crowned a league and cup double with Lille who had not won a trophy for over half a century. That deserved the No. 1 spot in the Top 100 Sport / Foot Magazine – RTBF.
Sport/Foot magazine : In January, you were announced almost every day at a big club …
Oh, I was not aware. (He laughs).
These rumours, they make you laugh or they irritated you?
People say everything and anything. I know my situation. They send me in the best clubs, it’s been fun, but maybe I’m not interested in everything you hear.
You know your situation … That is to say?
I know what direction I will go.
England is your priority?
That’s the championship where I think I can express myself better. Where I can learn more, too. Difficult to explain why. Question of feeling. The level of the matches, the atmosphere in the stadiums: this is still well above anything I’ve experienced so far in France. And that attracts me.
They quote you a regular at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger likes you a lot, you’ve always been a fan of Thierry Henry, … This club inspires you because it has a tradition of the beautiful game? This will be a priority for you to sign for a team that plays good football?
Of course. It’s always more fun when it’s beautiful. In addition, at Arsenal, there is a coach and French players. And Thomas Vermaelen. There are several clubs that interest me in England and Arsenal is really a part.
The sooner you go, the better?
All in good time: First, finish the season well with Lille. Then, I will make the right choice. Going abroad to find myself on the bench, is something I’m not interested in. I know I can still raise my level. But, ever since the beginning of my career, I have always set the bar a little higher. And I worked to be able to cross it. And I know many people in England. This is another added attraction.
At one point, they talked mostly Spain. Real Madrid, for example …
I never told myself that I wanted to go to Real Madrid. Others have done in my place. I’m obviously not against the idea. Who does not dream of Real Madrid? Or FC Barcelona? I have never closed the door to anyone. I like all major championships : Spain, Italy, etc.. But I am convinced that, for now at least, the ideal for me would be England. I am lucid enough to realize that being holder in one of two Spanish grandees, at my age it would be complicated.
Read the full interview exclusive Eden Hazard in your Sport / Foot Magazine this week.
Daniel Devos and Pierre Danvoye, Sport / Foot Magazine
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This interview was done because of the fact that Hazard was named as the best Belgian player in the magazine that appears this week. So it was very recent as the even mentioned the Tottenham story. Now I must admit I don’t have the full interview because it isn’t sold in the Flemish part of Belgium where I live.
Again a fine example of how a rumour gets a story and how the player himself denies it and says nothing is done or signed at all. And he even makes it clear that Arsenal is very much more his favourite club. I think those at Tottenham who were dreaming already will be glad to know that Hazard seems to be a polite boy but he sure has more the red and white running in his blood than any other colour from any other club in London.
And if he comes or not we will see it when it happens. If he comes, great. If he doesn’t there are other players that could come. And besides we got a player like The Ox coming through very fine now.
But please let us not get carried away with each rumour that is spread and start shouting and swearing and throwing abuse. Relax and don’t believe every rumour that goes around and is repeated.
And for those who want Hazard to come but also want Wenger out: the latter will mean that Hazard will not come for sure.
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