Hazard: Zidane told me to be happy during my first months at Real Madrid Real Madrid Opened up in an interview

Paris Saint-Germain tried to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea on multiple occasions, but the Belgian always refused to join them.

The current Real Madrid played won the Ligue 1 player of the year award twice while at Lille, yet a return to France wasn't on his mind and certainly not for a new club.

"They often tried to recruit me, but I didn't want to return to Ligue 1 unless it was to join Lille," he said in an interview with L'Equipe.

"I always said no to them.

"It was clear in my mind that if I were to return to France it would be with Lille."

Hazard eventually ended up joining Real Madrid, although he struggled to impress with his performances at the start of the season.

"The first two or three months at Real Madrid were not as I wanted them to be," he added.

"Zinedine Zidane told me to remain calm.

"'Be happy,' he repeated to me.

"He goes straight to the point, he loves his players.

"You feel that the team is happy for him being the coach."

The Belgian was criticised for being overweight after his arrival this summer from Chelsea and he made clear that he does everything it takes to enjoy his holidays.

"It is true, when I am on vacation, I am on vacation," he continued.

"Otherwise, I never have a vacation.

"When I was 18 years old at Lille I weighed 72 or 73kg.

"Then, when I increased muscle mass, I reached 75kg.

"This summer I weighed 80kg, but I lost everything in 10 days."

Hazard also revealed that he could have joined Real Madrid on several occasions in the past.

"I could have signed before," he said.

"When I was in Lille, that possibility already existed.

"But I wanted to try England.

"Contacts began two or three years ago, when I was injured with the national team.

"After the 2018 World Cup, I wanted to come [to Real Madrid], but Chelsea said no.

"I had to be with [Maurizio] Sarri for a year.

"I also didn't want to leave Chelsea in a bad way."