‘He was one of the best’ – Eden Hazard names most underrated player
Eden Hazard Names Most Underrated Midfielder from Playing Career
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Eden Hazard has identified Mousa Dembélé as the most underrated midfielder he played alongside during his career. Hazard, who retired in 2023, highlighted Dembélé’s talents despite the lack of widespread recognition he received.
Throughout his illustrious career at Chelsea, Real Madrid, and the Belgium national team, Hazard had the opportunity to play with elite talent. He noted that while many teammates received accolades, Dembélé, who played for Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, was overlooked by many.
At 35 years old, Hazard’s time at Real Madrid was marred by injuries. He made 76 appearances for the Spanish club, scoring seven goals, while contributing to their victories in the UEFA Champions League and La Liga twice. His transfer from Chelsea in 2019 was expected to be worth £150 million, contingent on various performance-related factors.
“He was one of the best midfielders from that era,” Hazard said of Dembélé in an interview with The Guardian. “People didn’t talk about him much because he didn’t score a lot of goals, but fans in the Premier League know he was one of the best.”
Martin Jol, a former manager of Fulham, also praised Dembélé’s skills after he moved to Tottenham. “Dembele is likely the best player I’ve ever seen when it comes to handling the ball,” Jol stated, expressing regret over losing such talent.
Hazard’s perspective sheds light on the contributions of players who may not have received the recognition they deserve, emphasizing Dembélé’s impact amidst a roster of soccer greats, including Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, and Romelu Lukaku.
