Eden Hazard’s talent hasn’t been missed by anyone at this point but a few in the know spotted his ability before he rocked up on these shores and developed into one of the world’s best at Chelsea.
Peter Crouch, beanpole former England international and current Stoke City striker-turned media personality, had word about a young kid lighting fires in the French league with Lille.
In his column for the Daily Mail, Crouchy has told of the first time he had word that the lad was something truly special.
“Joe Cole was excited when we spoke,” he writes.
“It was the autumn of 2011 and he was on a season long-loan at Lille. There was something he'd said to me.
“'This kid,' he said, 'is the best player I have played with — ever. He's got the potential to be the best I have ever seen.'
“Joe was talking about a lad called Eden Hazard but I didn't know much about the French league and hadn't heard of him. I didn't give it much thought.”
A decent eye for player on Cole, then. It prove valuable to him should he chose to pursue a career in the game after retiring earlier this week.
And his parent club at the time, Liverpool, could have done with a buzz from Cole at the time. They finished eighth in the Premier League that season and still had the likes of Craig Bellamy knocking around at Anfield.
How they could have done with the Belgian.
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