Revealed: Ex-Chelsea, Real Madrid Star Turned Down Massive Saudi Offer Before Retiring 

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard decided to retire from the sport despite Saudi Arabian teams offering him agreements worth £1 million per week.

The Belgian said last month that he was hanging up his boots after 16 years as a professional. It came after a turbulent four years at Real Madrid in which he frequently suffered injury. Hazard’s regular physical issues limited his playing time for the Spanish powerhouses to just 76 games over four seasons. Hazard’s former Chelsea colleague John Obi Mikel said that despite his physical concerns, Hazard had numerous attractive offers from Saudi Arabia.

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The former Chelsea midfielder revealed the chat he had with Hazard on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five.

“Should I go to Saudi Arabia, where I’m going to take a million a week, and then what? I got about two or three offers to go to Saudi Arabia,” Hazard said.

“He said, ‘Mikel, I’ve got a lot of money. You know how I live my life. I don’t spend too much money. So, I have money now to live with my family and to bring up [my children].”

Hazard turned down the Saudi Pro League’s invitation even though a number of the world’s best players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, had relocated to Saudi Arabia. He won two Premier League crowns, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and two Europa Leagues while he was a player with Chelsea. That followed their 2011 Ligue 1-Coupe de France double with Lille.

Although Hazard has not disclosed his future plans, many surmise that he may follow in the footsteps of his former colleague Fernando Torres and become a coach in the future due to his grasp of the game.