The next Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard declares interest in sealing summer move to Arsenal



Highly-rated Belgium star Eden Hazard has declared his ambition to join Arsenal prompting Arsene Wenger to ponder a summer 2010 move for Lille's teenage prodigy.

Hazard, 18, is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in European football, tipped to become the next Cristiano Ronaldo for his flair and tricky.

Having coveted the attention of Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona, who are monitoring his rise in the French Ligue 1, Real Madrid's presidential advisor Zinedine Zidane has urged big-spending Florentino Perez to make the winger his next signing.



Wenger warning: Hazard has declared his ambition to seal a move to Arsenal



The Belgian wonderkid has six international caps to his name after making his debut against Luxembourg at the age of 17 last November and admits that a move to either the Emirates or the Bernabeu would fulfill a childhood dream.

'Real Madrid and Arsenal are the clubs I dreamed of joining as a child,' he said.



'If I joined Inter or Barcelona and could play football there then that would be very good, but Real and Arsenal are really great and play at a very high technical level.'

Despite being buoyed by Zidane's mooted admiration, Hazard insists an inevitable departure from Lille is far too early to envisage, preferring a probable exit in 2011.

Real deal: Zidane wants Madrid to sign Eden Hazard



'Zidane is my idol — the greatest footballer of his generation. If someone like that praises you, it is heart-warming,' he added.



'But I must repeat that it is too early to move. In one or two years I will maybe make the next step.



'Lille play European football, which is also a good opportunity for me. Getting minutes on the field is what counts from my perspective right now.'

the in-demand star has pleaded for potential suitors to respect his wishes and allow him to focus on at least another year of continuing his education in France, where he is tied down to a three-year deal with Les Dogues.

However, Hazard hinted that an offer in the region of £26m would see him exchange clubs - a fee that would certainly ward off Wenger's apparent interest.

VIDEO: Eden Hazard - the next big thing?





He said: 'I have a three-year contract and feel that I have a lot to learn in Lille.



'The situation could only change if a club offers £26million and Lille were unable to refuse, but for now I ask all the clubs interested to respect my decision:

'I want another year to develop at Lille.'