I miss football, especially the lads, but I've no regrets.I lived my dream, even when the story was not good

YOU could forgive Eden Hazard if he had some bitterness about the disappointing way his career ended - but he is a man at ease.

- Nizaar Kinsella

The Chelsea legend is sitting back in Madrid, where his family still live, relaxed and cracking jokes.

There is no resentment about his retirement in October last year, when he called time on his career aged 32 after a nightmare injury-hit spell at Real Madrid.

Speaking to Standard Sport in his first UK newspaper interview since hanging up his boots, Hazard is open and honest when asked if he could have continued playing.

"Good question," he says. "I think so, but I decided playing football was over because I had a lot of injuries, and I have no regrets."

Hazard reportedly had offers from clubs in Belgium, the United States and Saudi Arabia.

They wanted a piece of one of football's last great entertainers, a genius who slalomed through defences and won a Double at Lille, six major trophies at Chelsea, six at Real Madrid and earned 126 Belgium caps.

"I enjoy it a lot," he says of his retirement. "I miss my football a bit, especially being with the lads in the dressing room, but I can do what I want now. I have kids and a family. I can go to Belgium to see my family, brothers and parents. I can do a lot of things."