And on his own long-term future, the Gunners boss suggests if he were to move away from the Emirates, Germany could be his destination
Arsene Wenger has claimed Arsenal were close to signing Eden Hazard back in 2012 only for Chelsea to steal him from their grasp – and the Frenchman’s house.
The Belgian midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge for £32million at the start of last season from Ligue 1 club Lille.
He has since excelled and was last week named the PFA Young Player of the Year – and picked in the Team of the Year – after scoring 14 times for Jose Mourinho’s men.
However, Wenger has claimed things could have been so different with Hazard close to agreeing a switch to north London.
The Arsenal boss told BeIN Sports: Yes, I wanted to take him, I had his agent at my home but again the barrier was financial and Chelsea made an effort that I couldn’t make.
He can be one of the players who grows into the Messi, Ronaldo stature if he continues to develop well.
Meanwhile, Wenger has admitted a future move to the Bundesliga would be a lure in the future.
The Frenchman is out of contract this summer and although he is widely expected to pen a new deal, he admits a switch to Germany could one day be a possibility.
He continued: If I was to go somewhere then I think it would be in a different country because I am so much Arsenal that I would not like to coach anywhere else in England.
Germany (is an option) because I am of German culture a little bit and it’s a country where I have never worked and I am very close to it.
