Tuesday 7 March 2017 13:33, UK
Sol Campbell says Eden Hazard does not necessarily have to move to Real Madrid or Barcelona to be considered world class and suggested he had the option to move to the Nou Camp as player.
The Chelsea forward has excelled this season with Antonio Conte's side opening up a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League after their 2-1 win over West Ham on Monday Night Football.
Hazard has been linked with a transfer to Real Madrid in the past but, while Campbell admits some people may think he needs to move to one of the big two in Spain in order to sit alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he believes the Belgian is already "world class".
Campbell told Premier League Daily: "At the moment he is definitely up there for this season because his performances have been exemplary. He's also going international as well, so you have got to do both at international level and for your team.
"Back in the days, you almost need to sometimes go to Real Madrid or Barcelona to be truly world class. He is world class but in the perception of people's minds sometimes you have got to go to those clubs to kind of almost say 'look, I've played at the biggest clubs in the world'.
"Chelsea are a massive club but sometimes people do think that to really see your potential as a world class star, sometimes players do go to Real Madrid or Barcelona to put that cherry on the cake."
Asked if Hazard needs to leave Chelsea to move to either of the Spanish giants for people to consider him among the best in the world, Campbell said: "No, I'm just saying some people do think like that. I'm just being honest. Chelsea fans would say he is at the biggest club in the world right now.
"Right now he is playing unbelievably and he is world class for sure."
Campbell, who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time at Arsenal, says he did not feel as though he needed to move to La Liga in order to be considered among the best in the world but revealed there was interest in his signature from Spain when he was a player.
"I didn't think that but I wouldn't mind going there, I wouldn't mind," he said.
"Barcelona came along in and around my first move from Tottenham to Arsenal. There were a few clubs around there. I was tempted but they came in right at the end."
