Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has revealed why he turned down advice from former manager Maurizio Sarri to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo’s lifestyle.
The retired Belgian superstar, once regarded among the world’s best, shared his thoughts in an interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport. Hazard said Sarri approached him during the 2018-19 season at Chelsea, suggesting he try to adopt Ronaldo’s professional habits.
Hazard, however, refused, insisting on staying true to himself. “Yes, but I told him I didn’t want to. I’ve never gone too far, but I’ve always wanted to be Hazard both on and off the field. If my friends asked me to have dinner, I would agree to go, and if I wanted a drink, I would allow myself to have one. Cristiano is Cristiano, I am Hazard. I just wanted to be myself and play football,” he told GOAL.
Sarri worked with Hazard for only one season at Stamford Bridge, during which the Belgian excelled, ultimately paving the way for his move to Real Madrid. Hazard donned the iconic number seven jersey at Madrid but struggled to match Ronaldo’s performance at Chelsea due to injuries.
The former playmaker retired in 2023 at age 32, citing fitness and health challenges that made it difficult to play consistently. Throughout his career, Hazard maintained that his main focus was enjoying football, prioritizing fun on the pitch over rigid routines.
Elijah Adeyemi
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