The signing of Eden Hazard from Chelsea may have excited Real Madrid supporters, but some of his past comments about Barcelona's Lionel Messi might make him slightly harder to warm to.
Hazard's transfer was officially confirmed on Friday evening in a deal which could rise to up to a staggering £150m.
The Belgian winger said it had always been his dream to move to the Bernabeu at some point of his career, but Madrid fans may not be best pleased when they read some of the things Hazard has had to say about Messi.
The rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona is one of the biggest and most intense in football, and as a result Los Blancos supporters are known to dislike the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
But Hazard has often called Messi the best player in the world in the past, and has even gone as far as to say he models his game on the Argentinean star.
Before one Belgian press conference Hazard said: "I can't be compared to (Lionel) Messi. Yes, there are some similarities, we're both small and fast, but he scores important goals in every game. I can't be compared to the incomparable."
Hazard also praised Barcelona's talisman in a live stream for Chelsea TV, saying: "When you are playing football you want to play against the best players in the world and the best teams in the world. Messi is the best player in the world."
All will no doubt be forgiven, however, if Hazard can reproduce the stunning form he showed on a regular basis at Chelsea in the white shirt of Real Madrid.
He leaves the Blues having made a total of 352 appearances in all competitions, with a return of 110 goals.
Just this season he registered 21 goals and 17 assists, and left on a high by inspiring his side to a 4-1 Europa League final win over Arsenal , during which he scored twice.
