Eden Hazard drops major hint on Chelsea return decision amid retirement claims

Latest Chelsea news as Eden Hazard delivers brief message on his footballing future amid a possible Blues return and retirement claims

Chelsea hero Eden Hazard could have provided the clearest hint yet at his plans for the future amid talk of a sensational Stamford Bridge return. The 32-year-old was released by Real Madrid earlier this year after enduring a nightmare four seasons in Spain with a plethora of injuries seeing him make just 76 appearances for Los Blancos.

During his seven years at the Blues, Hazard won both the Premier League and PFA Player of the Year Award on two separate occasions. In the month prior to his departure, the Belgian international also gave Chelsea supporters the perfect send-off by starring in the Europa League final victory over Arsenal.

While injuries have hampered his career, it is abundantly clear Hazard is an elite-level footballer and this was further highlighted by the amount of offers he received from potential next clubs. According to Hazard's world-famous barber, Ahmed AlsanawI – the owner of A Star Barbers in Chessington – the winger has already rejected offers from six teams this summer as he assesses his options.

Suggestions of retirement have also been prominent with Hazard pulling the curtain down on his time with the Belgian national team following their group stage exit at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. With Hazard still yet to sign for a new team, over 12 weeks on from learning his spell had ended in Madrid, those claims have only gotten stronger with words from the man himself hinting a retiring is the most likely outcome.

In a new documentary based on the Red Devils called 'Believe', Hazard is one of many Belgian players followed with one clip emerging where he reveals: 'It's time to enjoy life by drinking a few beers." Alongside Hazard, the programme also follows the day-to-day life of former team-mates Johan Bakayoko, Amadou Onana and Jan Vertonghen, among several others.

If Hazard does call time on his professional career, he will be remembered as a Chelsea great with 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 appearances for the Blues. While a stunning return to west London would be welcomed by supporters, his signing would go against Chelsea's long-term plans where signing anyone over 25 is not considered.

This bizarre cut-off point resulted in the Blues not pushing to sign James Maddison from Leicester with London rivals Tottenham instead obtaining his signature.