Eden Hazard explains why he refused to join PSG as Cristiano Ronaldo disagreement made clear

Eden Hazard has revealed the reason why he refused to join Paris Saint-Germain - while disagreeing with Cristiano Ronaldo on the strength of the Saudi Pro League.

Hazard decided to hang up his boots in December 2022, six months after being released by Real Madrid.

The final years of his career were blighted by a series of injuries and a lack of form, but Hazard became one of the best wingers on the planet during his seven years with Chelsea between 2012 and 2019.

As such, there was plenty of interest in his services from clubs throughout that time and afterwards, although he stayed put at Stamford Bridge until his move to the Bernabeu for an initial £88.3 million fee.

Speaking on 'The Obi One Podcast', hosted by his former Chelsea team-mate John Obi Mikel, Hazard revealed he regularly had interest from PSG - and gave one clear reason as to why he could never join them.

He explained: "Paris was the club that tried to push [to sign me] every summer, when I was playing at Chelsea.

"I always said, my club in France is Lille. I'm not going to go to another club than Lille. And I was clear with them - no.

"I love football. I love the fans, and when I say something, even money, I don't care about. It's good to have money, of course, but it's not like, 'I need that money'. I don't care."

Hazard was also asked about comments made by Ronaldo, who claimed that the summer spending spree from the Saudi Pro League meant that it was of a better quality than France's Ligue 1.

Hazard replied: "I don't agree with him, but that's just an opinion.

"The thing is now, if you look at the league in Saudi Arabia, they have big players. They just aren't big teams. In France, they have maybe less big players, but they're more like a team.

"I'm sure that if a Ligue 1 team play against a Saudi Arabian team, they're going to win. Maybe not easily like people think, but I think so.

"The level in France is good. I'm watching the French league, and they have talent, they have young players, they can play football. Paris is good. The level is there."

Topics: Eden Hazard, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League, Ligue 1, Football

Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.