Eden Hazard admitted he has fulfilled ‘a dream’ after being unveiled as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday night.
Hazard signed on the dotted line for a five-year-deal worth a reported £400,000-a-week and posed with a Real Madrid shirt for the first time before giving his first address to the media and the supporters.
Wearing a pristine grey suit, Hazard sat down next to Real president Florentino Perez for the presentation in the presidential suite after completing his £150million move from Chelsea.
Broadcast on Real Madrid TV, the Belgian said: ‘I am going to speak in French, I still need to improve my Spanish.
‘I am looking forward to putting on this shirt and defending the shirt. As the president said, it was a dream to play for this club and now I am here.’
Perez added: ‘You are where you wanted to be – this was one of your dreams. Now one of your dreams has come true.
‘This will be your home and you will feel and experience great passion. From day one you will realise the most important thing here is the fans, those who love Real Madrid.
‘To play for this club was your biggest dream and thanks to your hard work and talent you have joined Real. The fans will be behind you in every game. The fans know you are unique and your brand of football is special.’
The Belgian passed his medical earlier in the day before his official unveiling at night.
He sealed his £150m move last week, subject to completing a medical, and was pictured arriving at La Moraleja University Hospital on Thursday afternoon.
Footage showed Hazard, who will wear the club’s iconic No 7 jersey, arriving at the hospital in a car and then getting out to greet the waiting supporters.
The former Chelsea star is the fifth summer signing by Real. He will be joined at the club by fellow new boys Luka Jovic, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao and Rodrygo Goes.
The Belgium star became the club’s record-signing when his move from Chelsea was finally concluded last Friday.
The club are attempting to break their attendance record for a player presentation.
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
