October 12th 2023.
This week, Eden Hazard announced his retirement from football. But Kevin Nolan, coach at West Ham, is convinced that he will make a U-turn on his decision. At just 32 years old, the Belgian retired after leaving Real Madrid, following a big-money move to Santiago Bernabeu and four years of struggling with fitness and form.
Nolan believes Hazard still has the ability to compete at the highest level and would love to see him join West Ham on trial. He stated in an interview with talkSPORT, "I'd have the Hazard of Chelsea at West Ham. I'm sure if he wanted to come and trial we'd, I mean, I'd certainly be willing to. I don't know about the gaffer [David Moyes]. But I'd certainly want to trial him!"
The former Bolton standout reckons Hazard will be tempted out of retirement at some point soon, as he doesn't turn 33 until January. Nolan continued, "Some of the best years in the Premier League, he's been part of and some of the best goals. It's sad that at 32 he's decided to bow out in all honesty because I believe someone of his calibre of play could play at the top level for plenty more years."
Nolan, who once came up against Hazard during his own playing days, believes he may have a change of heart in the coming months. He said, "I just think at 32, he's just put out that he's retired. There's been so many times, I remember when [Paul] Scholes done it. Then he got a phone call from Sir Alex [Ferguson] and he was like 'oh yeah, I will come back'. I just think something like that could happen with Hazard because someone is probably willing to give him the opportunity to say 'go on, come in and play for us for six months'."
Whether Hazard will make a come back to the Premier League is yet to be seen, but it's clear that Nolan believes in his potential to play at the highest level.
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