Newly signed Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard has stressed that he is not a “Galactico” yet – but hopes to help the club back to their glory days.
The Belgium international was officially unveiled as the latest arrival at Santiago Bernabeu today following a successful medical that sealed his move from Chelsea.
Exiting the Blues, with whom he has played for since 2012, for a reported initial fee of £88.5m (€100m/$112m) , the 28-year-old is believed to be the most expensive transfer ever conducted by the club, exceeding that of Gareth Bale .
Hazard joins a side however who endured arguably their worst campaign this century in 2018-19, failing to win any domestic honours and suffering a round-of-16 exit in the Champions League.
Former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui took the reins over last year following the departure of Zinedine Zidane, but failed to make the desired impression and was duly sacked in October.
Santiago Solari filled the role until March, when Zidane returned to the helm once again.
Such turmoil is in sharp contrast to the previous half-decade that saw Madrid lift the Champions League on four occasions in five seasons , helping to forge their Galacticos reputation once again under chairman Florentino Perez.
Hazard has played down assumptions that he considers himself a member of the elite group of players who bear the moniker, such as Ballon d’Or holder Luka Modric, but professed a desire in his first press conference at the club to scale such heights.
“I'm not a "Galactico", not yet, [though] I hope to be one day,” the Belgian stated. “I'm Eden Hazard and everything I've done is in the past [does not count].
“Here I start from scratch. I don't consider myself a "Galactico", but a very good player.
“It's true Real Madrid [has] won a lot of titles and [that] the last year hasn't been so good. That happens in football.
“I hope to start a new cycle with the players who have won so much, that's what I'm here for.”
Madrid will head to the United States for the International Champions Cup next month when they face Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in Houston, Landover and East Rutherford respectively.