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You need to be utterly sure of yourself to play a public game of dare with three of the biggest clubs in football. 

But as Eden Hazard finally announced, via Twitter, that he will resist the blandishments of both Manchester giants and be a Chelsea player next season, the Blues' fans were already licking their lips. 

They have watched the YouTube clips. 

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They have read the rave reviews, and seen the advanced promises for the Belgian youngster who is already being spoken about as the natural heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

(Image: Getty)

Gifted to be a footballer, yet also, it seems, about as keen on himself as any of the game’s great prima donnas have ever been. 

Then again, when you are France’s player of the year at 21, having been the Ligue 1 young player of the season at 17, when you are already powerful enough to play chicken with your national federation and know it will be the coach who goes, not you, perhaps you have a right to believe you can call the shots. 

Hazard has certainly done that ever since he made it clear that he would be the master of his footballing destiny a few months ago. 

First to be drawn into the game were Tottenham and Arsenal, invited to bid for his services, to show ­themselves a ready receptacle for perhaps the finest natural talent of his generation. 

It was all, it seems, an elaborate plan, designed to winkle out the real big hitters - a club ready to stump up £32million to secure his services and agree a five-year deal worth £4.8m each season. 

Follow the transfer saga here: www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/eden%20hazard%20transfer

City were keen, probably keener than United, but got bored with the posturing, leading Roberto Mancini and the board to harbour doubts, especially when talk of a £5m bonus to Hazard's agent was raised in negotiations. 

(Image: Michael Regan)

Chelsea, though, suddenly ­rejuvenated by their Champions League glory, had no such quibbles. 

And if some might have thought the public posturing could affect Hazard, they were wrong. 

Even though he is still to mature fully, looks slight, should be a player who can be marginalised wide on the left, he carried Lille to a respectable ­third-placed finish. 

Instead of his desire to leave seeing the fans turn on him, they wore T-shirts and carried banners in his honour, wearing wigs in the red, black and yellow of the Belgian flag. 

When he was handed the armband for his final game, against Nancy, marking the occasion with a hat-trick to take his season’s tally to 20 goals, he was chaired off the pitch by his ­team-mates. 

If you are really that good, really that talented, you are allowed to be cocky, arrogant, self-possessed.  And Hazard is all that and more. 

Crucially, though, he can play, as shown by the testimonies of his team-mates and rivals. 

“Everyone loves this player and we are losing a golden nugget,” said Lille captain Rio Mavuba. “ This season he really showed he is the best player in Ligue 1. 

“I’ve seen great players during my career but given his age and potential he is the best player I’ve played against or seen. 

“Yes, he knows what he wants.  Maybe knows too well what he wants. 

“But that’s because he is ahead of everyone, on and off the field.  He needs to keep both those sides to him but he is a good guy and he deserves it.” 

That streak of arrogance was revealed to the world when Hazard teased Chelsea, United and City, stating a few weeks ago: “It will be played between the three clubs everybody cites.  The final choice depends on the playing time I will have and the position where I will be aligned. “ 

The idea of a 21-year-old telling Mancini or Sir Alex Ferguson how to pick their teams seems laughable, but that sums up Hazard, both of whose parents - father Thierry and mum Carine - were semi-professionals. 

(Image: Getty)

Then again, it was Hazard - picked out as a talent at four - who decided, at 14, to leave AFC Tubize for Lille, just across the border in northern France, backing himself to make an early impression. 

Subsequent events proved him right, his audacity and instinctive talents seeing Zinedine Zidane recommend Real Madrid offer whatever it would take at the end of his first full season in the Lille first team squad but while his reputation has blossomed in France, he is less welcome in his native land. 

Indeed, former Belgium coach Georges Leekens seemed on a constant battle-footing with his most precocious talent, accusing him publicly of not trying in training and neglecting his defensive duties. 

Their relationship reached its nadir a year ago, when Hazard was substituted after 60 minutes of a Euro 2012 qualifier with Luxembourg, heading straight down the tunnel and out the other side, he was caught by television cameras outside the stadium with his family, eating a hamburger, while the match was still going on. 

“Burgergate” brought him a three-game ban by Leekens. 

While that was subsequently commuted, their relationship was never repaired and what developed into a “me or him” scenario ended earlier this month when the manager quit to join Club Brugge. 

Hazard, clearly knows his own mind.  But he can play. 

“I have seen many great players emerge over the last 15 years and Eden is as good as any of them,” said club-mate Joe Cole. 

“He has a special talent.  He can succeed everywhere.  The more I see him play, the more he impresses me.” 

For AC Milan midfielder Dejan Savicevic, though, warned: “Hazard must now demonstrate he is a great player, just like the other great players have done before him.  He still has everything to prove.” 

Stamford Bridge is his chosen proving ground. 

Get all the latest Eden Hazard news at www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/eden%20hazard

Follow the summer's transfer news at www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news

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