Eden Hazard has shut down speculation of retirement from football following his exit from Real Madrid. Hazard enjoyed an outstanding career at Lille and Chelsea, helping the former to a French league and cup double in 2011 and going on to win six major trophies in seven years with the latter. 
Eden Hazard at a match for Real Madrid. Source: Getty For much of the 2010s, the Belgian winger was considered one of the best players in the world. Sadly, however, his 2019 switch to Real Madrid worth up to €146m with add-ons will be remembered as one of the worst transfers in history. He attained an unwanted flop status in his 3 years at Real Madrid and agreed to a mutual termination of his contract a year early. Though Eden Hazard has announced his retirement from international football, he is defiant about what comes next for him in club football. When asked about his plans for the future this weekend, he claimed that his time with Los Blancos amounted to a ‘rest’ that will allow him to carry on his career somewhere else, rather than go down the route of relatively early retirement like former teammate Gareth Bale. The former Chelsea man who was given a guard of honor at the King Baudouin Stadium before Belgium’s match with Austria in the Euro 2024 qualifier on Saturday, June 17, told Belgian broadcaster RTBF; 
Eden Hazard waving goodbye to fans at Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Austria. Source: AFP “Retirement? Honestly, I don’t know yet. After these three difficult years, I just want to spend time with my family and go on holiday like everyone else. “It’s true that, in the last few days, I’ve read a lot of things about me, and a lot of nonsense. “Going to Molenbeek with my brother? I don’t know if it’s stupid, we’ll see. I know I’m not giving the answers that are expected but that’s because, honestly, I don’t have them yet. “Having said that, I can assure you that I am still capable of being a professional footballer. My body can take it. Besides, I’ve been resting for three years.” Although his chances of playing European football are minimal, there is a chance that he could move to the MLS this summer. After all, the MLS has been getting a lot of attraction since the transfer of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami.
Following Eden Hazard’s retirement from international football following Belgium’s premature exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which also marked the end of former coach Roberto Martinez’s reign, the country’s new national team coach, Domenico Tedesco has faced the hurdle of getting a new captain. De Bruyne who already has 97 caps for his country and 25 goals at the international level, has been named as Belgium’s new captain ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. Speaking to RTL-TVI television after the announcement, the Manchester City star said; 
“It’s an honour for me to be named and represent the country in this way. “I’m almost 32. I’ve never considered international retirement. I think I can still bring something to the table and help the youngsters.” Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Inter forward Romelu Lukaku have also been chosen as the two vice-captains. 