Frank Leboeuf has stated that he didn’t even notice that Aston Villa transfer target Eden Hazard was playing during Belgium’s 1-0 win over Canada at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Given Hazard’s lack of game time for Real Madrid this season – under 300 minutes in all competitions – it was a surprise to see him starting for Roberto Martinez’s side on Wednesday.
Whilst the 2018 semi-finalist came out with all three points, it was a pretty abject display from Belgium, with Hazard failing to produce and being hooked just after the hour mark.
Leboeuf knows what it takes to go all the way on football’s biggest stage after winning the World Cup with France in 1998 and he wasn’t too impressed by what Hazar produced on his opening night of the World Cup, as he told ESPN.
“I didn’t look at the (Belgium) line-up,” said Leboeuf. “I didn’t see him for 20 minutes. I didn’t know he was playing.
“Then I saw a little bit of him and it makes me laugh when some people say ‘it was a deliberate pass from Hazard’.
“But I don’t expect anything from Hazard, I have to say. Hopefully, he’s going to get better. We didn’t really see him and he didn’t really have much influence.”
PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN FOR HAZARD?
One of the reasons Hazard looks rusty and will probably continue to be rusty is that he has been left behind at Real Madrid.
Vinicius Jr has ghosted in front of him and gone well into the distance, especially during these past 18 months.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Hazard were to return to the Premier League, with Aston Villa mooted as a possible destination, because the former Chelsea man needs a new chapter in his career.
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