Manchester United reportedly pulled out of a move for Eden Hazard back in 2012, with the club believing that the Belgian was not suited to the physical nature of the Premier League.
Hazard, then at Ligue 1 side Lille, was on the cusp of stardom in 2012, and had attracted strong interest from a number of Europe’s top clubs.
According to the Express, Manchester United were in the running for the attacker, but pulled out in favor of Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa, having decided that Hazard was too lightweight.
The Japanese international had played a key role in Dortmund’s Bundesliga triumph that season, with the German side breaking the record for most number of points. Hazard meanwhile had been voted the best player in the French league for the second season running, and just won the French double with Lille.
Since the pair arrived in the Premier League, Kagawa has failed to live up to his £17m price-tag, and has been marginalised this season under David Moyes; while Hazard is enjoying arguably his best ever campaign, and starred for Chelsea in their magnificent 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Monday evening.
The £32m Chelsea shelled out for the now 23-year-old seems like money well spent, with the Belgian one of the Blues’ primary attackers in their the hunt for the Premier League title. Manchester United meanwhile are currently in the process of rebuilding, with Kagawa linked with a summer move away from Old Trafford.
What do you think? Are the United fans disappointed at not signing Hazard back in 2012? Let me know in the comments below…
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