Belgium coach Roberto Martinez revealed Wednesday what makes Eden Hazard such a formidable player on the pitch: his butt.
Hazard, who is set to join Real Madrid after Chelsea agreed to sell its talisman for €100 million ($112 million), will be presented as a Blanco on Thursday, when he will sign a five-year contract at Santiago Bernabeu. The Belgian playmaker is widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers in the world, and at 28, he is now fulfilling a long-held dream of playing with the Spanish giants.
Martinez, a huge fan of his Belgium charge, provided some unusual insight into Hazard's secret — or, perhaps, not-so-secret — weapon.
"He is so short, he uses his arse to get out of one-to-one situations that other players cannot." Martinez told reporters. "It is his center of gravity."
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Added Martinez: "He's got bags of quality and a great eye for football, and that allows him to always take the best decisions up front. Another thing he has is that he's not affected by emotions, not even what people say about him. He is very calm and quiet."
Hazard's talented rear end aside, Martinez has no doubt the star will take Spain by storm. He said Hazard's role with the Belgium team is playing a big part in making him a more mature figure.
"He has evolved a lot, but his biggest progression is in terms of personality," Martinez added. "Belgian football has given him a huge responsibility, and he has reacted great to it. Eden was the star, the captain of the team that finished third in the World Cup, and now we know he is ready to lead any project.
"There are a lot of famous names around, but you have to look into the essence of the footballer, how he influences his team. He is a gem because he has bags of quality and plays within the structure of the team. He is at the same level as Neymar or Mbappe."
