Eto'o is the best striker I've played with - Hazard

Chelsea's Eden Hazard has picked Samuel Eto'o as the best player he has played alongside during his career.

Eden Hazard has rather surprisingly identified Samuel Eto’o as the best player he has ever played with.

The Belgian picked Eto’o out as the individual with the most skill who he has trained alongside in his career so far after they spent a year together at Chelsea.

Eto’o has been one of the best players in the world, but Hazard’s selection of him is striking as he made little impact during his time at Stamford Bridge and is showing signs of age now.

The Cameroonian forward only managed to score 12 times in 34 appearances across all competitions last season for Chelsea and, as a result, was allowed to depart on a free-transfer from Stamford Bridge this summer.

However, although he may not have done enough to impress Jose Mourinho during his time at the Blues he clearly made an impact on Hazard, who picked him ahead of a host of talented players that Chelsea have at their disposal.

When asked who the best player he had played with was by TalkSPORT, Hazard responded: “Samuel Eto’o – he’s one of the best players in the world.

“Obviously here Frank Lampard, JT, with the respect they create and what they’ve gone through. And, in France, Gervinho – his skills with the ball are insane.”

The lack of a world-class striker was generally considered to be Chelsea’s downfall last season as they came up just short in the Premier League title race.

The Blues finished in third place in last year’s top-flight, but if they had had a natural goalscorer at their disposal many feel they would have been able to beat Manchester City to first-place.

As such, the signing of a front-man became one of the club’s top priorities this summer and the arrival of Diego Costa is hoped to be the solution to that particular problem.

Eto’o, meanwhile, has been linked with a host of English clubs with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool being two of the more notable names, proving that, like Hazard, there is an opinion that he still has a lot to offer.

He is 33 now, meaning that a regular starting position may be too much to ask of him, but there can be no doubting his quality, as he has had an impressive career at the top level.

Eto’o’s blistering pace made him one of the most feared marksmen in world football at Barcelona and Inter Milan and, although he has lost some of that acceleration now, his skill was clearly still very evident to Hazard during their time together.