Eden Hazard is my third favourite player: Zinedine Zidane

Hazard, last season’s player of the season, has endured a horrific spell so far this season

France legend Zinedine Zidane has hailed Chelsea winger Eden Hazard as ‘spectacular’ and also revealed that he is his third favourite footballer in the world currently reports Eurosport. Zidane has said that Hazard is wonderful to watch and feels that he is only behind world football royalty, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The 24-year-old has been constantly linked with a move to Zidane’s former club Real Madrid recently. Chelsea’s struggles in the Premier League this season has only added to these speculations. It is also believed that French champions Paris Saint-Germain have also expressed their interest in acquiring the Belgian’s services.

"After (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi, Hazard is my favourite player. It is spectacular to watch him play," Zidane said.

"If I see him playing for Real Madrid? I can only say I love the player.”

"I have no doubt he will soon recover his form."

These statements by Zidane, who is currently the coach of the Real Madrid reserves, will intensify the rumours regarding Hazard’s supposed move to the Spanish Giants.

Zidane enjoys legendary status at the Santiago Bernabeu as he spent five successful years at the club before hanging up his boots in 2006. He was one of the first superstars to arrive at Madrid during the ‘Galactico’ era and he cost the club a then world record fee of 75 million euros from Italian giants Juventus in 2001.

Interest in Hazard high despite dismal form this season

Hazard, who moved to Chelsea in 2012 from French side Lille for 32 million pounds, has had a forgetful season so far in the Premier League. Last season’s PFA and Football Writers' player of the year, he has failed to replicate the form that helped his side to the Premier League crown.

He has scored four times for his national side Belgium in the recently concluded Euro 2016 qualifiers but has failed to replicate that form for his club has he is yet to open his account in the Premier League so far this season.

However, this has failed to scare the big European clubs who have been after the Belgian for a while now. If tabloids reports are to be believed, Real Madrid have been constantly linked with the player with PSG having entered the race recently in trying to bring the player back to France.

Zidane has been quite vocal with his admiration for the Belgian so far on numerous occasions and it is believed that the Madrid giants would make a move for the winger in the summer.