Hazard admits he was overweight when he first joined Real Madrid

Eden Hazard, Real Madrid's star signing last summer, has recognised in an interview with L'Equipe that he was overweight when he turned up for preseason with the club. 

"It's true. I won't hide it. When I am on holiday, I am on holiday. If not, you would never have a holiday. I'm the type of person that puts on weight quickly and later I lose it quickly as well. When I was 18, at Lille I weighed 72 or 73 kilos. Putting on more muscle, I went up to 75. This summer I was 80, but I lost it all in 10 days," the Belgian forward said.  

Hazard, who explained that he's turned Paris Saint-Germain down several times, also analysed his performances for Madrid so far. 

He added: "I am satisfied with the last month. The only bad thing is the statistics." He has only scored one goal and set up four more since joining Madrid, numbers a long way short of what he posted at Chelsea in England last season. 

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has been an important figure for Hazard and he's delighted to be working with the Frenchman. "The first time I spoke with him was at Euro 2016. He told me: 'It would be good if you came (to Madrid).' When Zidane calls you, it's serious. In my first few months at Madrid, when things were coming off as I wanted, he told me to stay calm. 'Be happy,' he repeated. He loves his players."