Manchester United player Juan Mata has named former Chelsea teammate Eden Hazard as the greatest player ever in the history of the Premier League.
The pair played with one another for 18 months at the start of the Belgian’s stint at Stamford Bridge after his £32million arrival from Lille.
Mata signed for United for £37.1m in 2014 and has gone on to play with great players like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie.
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However, when asked who he thinks the greatest player in the history of the English League was, Mata picked Eden Hazard.
‘The best Premier League player… I mean, I used to love to play with, and against, Eden Hazard,’ Mata told United’s website during a Q&A.
‘For me, for many years, he was the best in the league. He could win games by himself. I used to train with him and I know how good he can be.
‘He has been very unlucky in his time with Real Madrid with some injuries, but I’m sure he’ll show his real level when he’s fit to do that and he’s not injured.
‘Other than him, we’ve had many players. You can speak about the history of the Premier League and you can maybe put some of my ex-team-mates like Wayne Rooney – he has to be up there.
‘Ryan Giggs has to be up there, and Paul Scholes. My ex-team-mates from Chelsea: [Frank] Lampard, [John] Terry, [Didier] Drogba. It’s very difficult to pick one.’
Hazard won two Premier League titles while at Stamford Bridge and was named PFA Player of the Year in 2015 as Jose Mourinho’s team lifted the title.
The Belgium international has struggled since his £100m transfer move to Real Madrid and is currently sidelined with injury.
