Chelsea New Boy Idolises Messi and Ronaldo

Eden Hazard has revealed he idolises Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Belgian winger, who revealed he is to join Chelsea this summer after a transfer saga which has seen him linked with a number of Europe's elite clubs, is one of the continent's brightest young stars.

And as Hazard's development continues, he says he aspires to be like two of the world's best players, and is targeting the European Footballer of the year award in the near future.

"When I was small I was the same as everyone else," Hazard said.

"I used to play in a small council estate nearby.

"But it's really my family who taught me. I started watching my dad play from the age of two. I wanted to be like him.

"The first pitch I played on, for my first club Braine-le-Comte, was only a metre from our house! I progressed very quickly. Now, I want to be European Footballer of the Year. Sometimes when I lie in bed I think about it.

"A lot of players watch videos of others. I'm not scared to say I watch videos of Messi and Ronaldo, I try and inspire myself from them.

"Great players inspire you. The best player I played with was Gervi (Gervinho).

"We didn't have the same qualities, but we both tried to make the difference. He taught me some things. He makes the right runs."

Hazard brought an end to a long-running story concerning his future by choosing to join Chelsea this summer, instead of Manchester City or Manchester United.

Chelsea's Champions League win over Bayern Munich, which secured the club's passage into new season's competition as defending champions, appeared to prove pivotal in Hazard's decision making.

With Didier Drogba having left the club following their Champions League triumph, Hazard will be charged with filling the void of the Ivorian, and will be hoping to forge a partnership with the likes of Juan Mata and Fernando Torres in Chelsea's attack.

Meanwhile, City and United, who narrowly missed out on signing Hazard, will now be forced to turn their attention elsewhere in search of new recruits as both look to gain the initiative ahead of the new season.

While City have been quiet in the transfer market thus far, United have been heavily linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa.