“A beautiful player to watch” – Brighton star likened to Real Madrid player, ‘always been decisive’

Brighton and Hove Albion star Leandro Trossard has been hailed by former teammate Hans Vanaken, who believes he shares similar traits to Eden Hazard.

The Belgian has been with Brighton since 2019, when he made the £18m move from KRC Genk in the summer transfer window.

Before then, he had spent the entirety of his career playing in his homeland, starting out at Bocholt VV U19 before joining Genk and then enjoying loan spells with the like of Lommel United, KVC Westerlo and OH Leuven.

That saw him playing alongside compatriot Vanaken, who initially joined Lommel on loan in January 2013 before another temporary spell between 2014-15.

Embed from Getty Images

It was during that initial loan that he played alongside the midfielder and made a lasting impression, as he continues to rank the Brighton man highly, even going as far as to compare him to Real Madrid man and Belgian star Eden Hazard.

“There is a bit of Eden Hazard in Trossard,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.

“Turning short between the lines and making an action. With an attitude of: try to catch me, and then turn away.

“He radiates calmness on the ball and is a beautiful player to watch. He has always been decisive.

“He scored ten goals in those six months. That pure feeling of scoring goals never goes away.”