Eden Hazard names ‘SURPRISING’ choice for Most Talented Teammate

Former Chelsea icon Eden Hazard spent seven years in the Premier League, helping the Blues to secure two league titles under two different managers – Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League, Hazard worked alongside greats like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and John Terry at Chelsea, while his Real Madrid spell saw him lining up beside stalwarts like Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, and others.

Appearing in the recent Obi One Podcast, hosted by his ex-Blues teammate John Obi Mikel, the Belgian was asked to name the most talented player he played with. Hazard replied:

"In Real Madrid I play with the best player[s] in the world. For me [Luka] Modric, [Karim] Benzema, they are top top of the list. When you say Kevin De Bruyne, he's top on the list, when you say [Frank] Lampard he's top of the list, Juan Mata for me was top of the list."

"I'm gonna give you one name, and John knows the player. The only one I was saying 'Wow', when I stopped playing in the young team in France, was Gael Kakuta."

"You asked me talent. Kakuta, by far, number one. Talent, I mean, talent. Wow."

Reminiscing about his time in France, Hazard recalled the memories of Ligue 1, where he represented Lille, while Kakuta was the talisman at Lens.

"I play against him a lot, because I used to play for Lille and he was playing in Lens. It's a derby, it's the north of France. So me being me, we used to win every game, every game five, six zero. Me, best player every game."

"And then every time we play against him, we're losing the game. He's the best player. He's the best player. This isn't normal."

"I think now is easy to say but I think he went a bit too early to Chelsea. He was 16 when he left France for Chelsea, you know? And that step at 16 is a huge step."

Kakuta joined Chelsea in 2007, deemed as a wonderkid on the threshold of becoming a future star of world football. Voted as the Academy Player of the Year, the youngster scored 12 goals in 24 matches for the reserve team with the Blues, and later in 2009 made his senior team debut.

However, he failed to realize his full potential at Stamford Bridge, leading to several loan spells at Fulham, Bolton, Dijon, Vitesse, Lazio, and Rayo Vallecano in five years. Chelsea released Kakuta in 2015 and the France youth international signed for Sevilla.

The 32-year-old represented DR Congo in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, helping his side to reach the semi-finals. Kakuta is currently contracted with Amiens in Ligue 2.

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