• Premier League

Hazard was 'tempted' by Tottenham

ESPN staff
September 25, 2012
Eden Hazard has quickly settled into Chelsea's starting XI © Getty Images
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Eden Hazard has revealed he considered joining Tottenham Hotspur before their failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Interest in Hazard, 21, was thought to be high in the summer with Tottenham one of several clubs linked prior to his £32 million move from Lille to Chelsea.

The Belgium international has claimed he was interested in signing for Spurs, after being impressed with the club following a fine first half of the 2011-12 campaign that was followed by poor form and a fourth-placed finish.

Despite finishing fourth, Tottenham were ultimately denied a place in this season's Champions League by virtue of the playmaker's new club Chelsea claiming European glory by beating Bayern Munich in May.

"It's true that Tottenham tempted me because it was a young team which was third in the league," Hazard told France Football. "Unfortunately, the end of the season did not go well. They did not reach the Champions League, which tipped the balance."

Hazard further explained how Chelsea's intentions to bolster the squad with exciting talent, coupled with their triumph at the Allianz Arena, persuaded him to sign for the Blues.

"Nobody was really a fan of Chelsea's game last season," he said. "The directors told me they were going to recruit good players with whom I could play decent football. Marko Marin, Oscar and me, we like to have the ball at our feet. Juan Mata likes the ball, so does Ramires.

"The title of European champions, and Champions League qualification, counted for a lot because the club was not doing well in the league. Once Chelsea won the final, it was a natural choice."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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