‘Don’t ask me to run!’ - Ex-Chelsea & Real Madrid star Eden Hazard explains why he always returned for pre-season overweight after enjoying summer break

The former Belgium international regularly faced questions of his physical condition when linking up with training camps ahead of any given campaign. That criticism intensified during his time at Santiago Bernabeu, as form and fitness proved hard to come by in Spain.

Hazard accepts that he would come back a little heavy, but makes no apologies for that as he was determined to make the most of a break in competitive action. With his body pushed to breaking point during gruelling domestic, continental and international campaigns, he was reluctant to do any kind of serious exercise when there was too much fun to be had.

Hazard told the Obi One Podcast hosted by his one-time Chelsea team-mate John Obi Mikel when asked about his supposed weight issues: “It was true. But me, every summer I was putting on four or five kilos because I was thinking you give so much for 10 months, you put your body at the highest level and people kick you, so your time off is your time off. Don’t ask me to do anything. I enjoy being with my family, going to the beach, so don’t ask me to run in those three or four weeks. I can play football on the beach with my kids, no problem, but don’t ask me to run.

“But if you look throughout my career, the first month [of the season] is the bit where I was thinking it’s just the beginning, and then from September and October I was flying, because I needed time to put my body and mind in the best way. So yes, it’s true, I came back after holidays with five kilos, I knew it. As a Belgian guy, we love beers because my country has the best beers in the world, so I’m not telling you I used to drink every day because it’s not true, but sometimes after a good game, one or two is nice.”

Hazard announced his retirement in October 2023 at just 32 years of age. He had been released by Real Madrid after four forgettable seasons in La Liga and opted against taking on another new challenge despite being linked with clubs around the world.