Eden Hazard will always be a legend in the eyes of all Chelsea fans, but the iconic winger has spoken honestly about the comparisons between the Blues and Real Madrid
Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
15:26, 31 Jan 2026
Eden Hazard speaking in a changing room
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Eden Hazard was asked to compare Real Madrid and Chelsea(Image: X/Rebuble)
Chelsea icon Eden Hazard has admitted Real Madrid will always be the biggest club he has ever played for.
Between 2012 and 2019, Hazard starred for the Blues and entrenched himself as one of the club's finest ever players. His dazzling displays earned him a move to Real Madrid, for a fee which had the potential of exceeding £150million.
Unfortunately for the mercurial Belgian, injuries wreaked havoc on his time at the Bernabeu and soon after departing the club as a free agent, he chose to retire from football. While the worst part of his career took place in the Spanish capital, he insists he still looks back at his time at the club fondly.
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After competing in the Match for Hope charity event in Qatar, Hazard was asked in the dressing room to make a choice between Chelsea and Real Madrid. He said: "No, Madrid is better.
"My time at Chelsea was unbelievable but as a club, Madrid is the very best, it’s number one."
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When asked if he would have ever considered playing for Barcelona, Hazard replied: "Would I have signed for Barcelona? No. My dream was Real Madrid since I was young.
"When I started playing football, my dream was to play for Madrid when I was young, I always told my dad that one day I want to play for Madrid. Of course, Barça with the way they play, Messi – but, Hala Madrid my friend.”
Eden Hazard of Real Madrid battles for possession with Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 05, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.
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Hazard played against Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League semi-final(Image: 2021 Getty Images)
With Los Blancos, Hazard only mustered seven goals and 12 assists in 76 appearances. He did manage to depart the club with two La Liga title triumphs and a Champions League winners' medal, but he never reached the same heights as he did at Chelsea.
Hazard has since opened up about his retirement from football, which came as a surprise as he was only 32 years old at the time. When asked by the Standard about his decision to retire and whether he could have possibly kept on playing, he said: "Good question.
"I think so, but I decided playing football was over because I had a lot of injuries, and I have no regrets. I enjoy it a lot.
Eden Hazard of Real Madrid is thrown in the air by teammates following the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on June 04, 2023 in Madrid, Spain
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Hazard did get a warm goodbye from Los Blancos(Image: 2023 Denis Doyle)
"I miss my football a bit, especially being with the lads in the dressing room, but I can do what I want now. I have kids and a family. I can go to Belgium to see my family, brothers and parents. I can do a lot of things."
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Elaborating on his time in Spain, he added: "It was my dream. I can tell you it was my dream even if the story was not that good with injuries and this and that.
"When I look back, and you can see some pictures of me wearing the white Real Madrid shirt, it makes me proud."
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