Chelsea Are Smart And Know Thorgan Hazard Will Make Grade Claims Zulte Waregem Chief Patrick Decuyper

Sunday, 23rd September, 2012

Zulte Waregem CEO Patrick Decuyper is certain that Thorgan Hazard will play alongside his brother Eden Hazard at Chelsea soon and dismissed suggestions the 19-year-old was only bought by the Blues to help Eden settle into life in London.

Chelsea snapped up Eden Hazard for €40M from 2011 Ligue 1 champions Lille in the summer but, in a move which raised eyebrows in France, then swooped to sign his brother Thorgan Hazard from Ligue 2 side Lens.

relatedNewsStory While Thorgan is rated as a player with much potential, a switch to the Champions League winners came as a surprise.

Thorgan was not at Chelsea for long though, with the Blues quickly sending the forward to Zulte Waregem on a season-long loan deal.

"I was watching football at the Olympics", Zulte Waregem CEO Decuyper told Nieuwsblad.

"The Hazard brothers had arrived as new Premier League footballers and gave an interview in Belgium House and through the grapevine I knew their agent, John Bico, a bit.

"We got talking and I proposed the idea of loaning Thorgan from Chelsea. Both the player and the English were happy with it and so he came to us.

"He fits into our vision for young talents to develop and it is better for him to join a Belgian first division club than be on the fringes of Chelsea or at an English second division side, because some wanted him."

Decuyper believes that Thorgan is part of Chelsea’s long term plans and rubbished talk that the younger Hazard had only been signed by the Blues to ease Eden’s transition into the club.

Indeed, for Decuyper, Chelsea rate Thorgan highly.

"The idea that Thorgan was transferred to Chelsea to ease in Eden is nonsense", said the Zulte Waregem chief.

"In London they really believe in Thorgan and they want to keep him. During his loan, Chelsea even pay 90% of his wages.

"I think [Roman] Abramovich and co. are really smart. Thorgan has already been through a lot at such a young age. As he continues to grow, there will be two Hazards playing football at Chelsea."

So far Thorgan Hazard has played one Jupiler Pro League game for Zulte Waregem, but the Belgian outfit are hopeful the 19-year-old can have a positive impact throughout the season.