Chelsea ‘had to ban a BURGER VAN from selling to Eden Hazard during his time at Stamford Bridge’… before self-confessed fast-food fan had issues with his weight at Real Madrid
- Blues legend hung up his boots at the age of just 32 after leaving Real Madrid
- MATT BARLOW: Eden Hazard was the jewel of Chelsea’s glittering success
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Chelsea had to ban a local burger van from selling to star winger Eden Hazard during his spell at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.
The Blues legend retired on Tuesday following dazzling spells both in west London and at his previous club, Ligue 1 side Lille, hanging up his boots after a disappointing final stint at Real Madrid.
But as tributes to his generational talent rolled in, it quickly became clear that the 32-year-old owed little of his genius to overtime put in at the gym.
Hazard’s storied career is scattered with tales of the player waiting until the last minute to warm up on matchdays or having a more-than casual attitude to training sessions.
As much as these behaviours were tolerated due to his sensational pay-off on the pitch, sometimes the west London outfit were forced to intervene to curb some of his more relaxed habits.
Chelsea are believed to have banned their star player Eden Hazard from indulging at a burger van near Stamford Bridge
The move from the club is thought to have taken place during his early years in west London
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As per Matt Law on the London Is Blue podcast, the club are believed to have stepped in and banned a burger van nearby Stamford Bridge from selling to their player.
Hazard is thought to have stopped by frequently after matchdays in SW6 during his early seasons after joining the club in summer of 2012.
The former Belgium captain has previously seemed uninterested in sticking to a rigorous diet or fitness regime.
After securing his £86million move to Real Madrid in 2019, Hazard did little to endear himself to his new coaching staff when he turned up after the summer break an estimated five kilograms overweight.
He is thought to have returned in a similarly relaxed state ahead of the 2020-21 season.
The former player never got off the ground in the Spanish capital, his budding form stymied by a string of injuries that saw him spend large chunks of his career on the sidelines at the Bernabeu.
For all of Hazard’s on-pitch genius, Hazard has always had a relaxed approach to training
The player was pilloried for turning up to Real Madrid after making his expensive move from Chelsea an estimated 5kg overweight
Hazard and Madrid agreed a mutual termination of his contract in June one season before its planned expiration in 2024.
He is thought to have explored different club options to continue playing, before the eventual decision this week to call time on his career, 15 years after his permanent promotion to the senior team at Lille.
‘After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer,’ Hazard wrote on a touching Instagram post breaking the news. ‘I was able to realise my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world.
‘During my career I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates – thank you to everyone for these great times, I will miss you all.’
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