REVEALED: Man Utd passed on Chelsea's Eden Hazard in favour of Shinji Kagawa
MANCHESTER UNITED pulled out of a move for Chelsea's Eden Hazard because they decided he was too lightweight for the Premier League and instead chose to go with Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa.
Back in 2012 Hazard was a hot commodity, with clubs from all over Europe interested in signing the youngster from Lille.
But United remained unconvinced about Hazard's physical strength and paid Borussia Dortmund £17m for Kagawa's services.
At the time Kagawa had just helped Dortmund to the Bundesliga title ahead of Bayern Munich and with a record number of points, while Hazard was one year removed from winning the double and was voted UNFP player of the year for the second consecutive season.
However, the two players have experienced contrasting fortunes following their moves to England with Kagawa struggling to make an impact at United, especially this season under David Moyes.
Meanwhile, Hazard has continued to develop at a rapid pace and has drawn favourable comparisons with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for his performances in recent weeks.
Eden Hazard is probably the best young player in the world with legs to go there, but give him time.
Jose Mourinho
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is aware of the talk, and insists Hazard does have the ability to reach that level, but insists he still needs time to improve.
He said: "I keep saying he has to improve.
"He needs to have his feet on the ground. Ronaldo and Messi are Ronaldo and Messi.
"Eden Hazard is probably the best young player in the world with legs to go there, but give him time."
It seems a fair assessment, but that will come as little consolation to United, who forked out £37.1m in January for Juan Mata in a bid to fill the role they hoped Kagawa would eventually fill at Old Trafford.
To think, they could just have easily have had Hazard for less than that two years ago.
GETTY
Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard still has room for improvement
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