Samuel Eto’o has dropped a bold statement that Real Madrid star Eden Hazard is “on the same level” as Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The 39-year-old Cameroonian legend played alongside the Barcelona captain in a brilliant front three alongside Arsenal icon Thierry Henry.

And Eto’o captured a historic treble with Barcelona during the 2008-09 season before he was shipped off to Inter Milan.

The former Barca and Inter striker has spoken with affection about Messi and even backed the Argentine star in his battle to leave the club in the summer.

Spanish newspaper Diario AS reports that Eto’o claimed that Hazard is “on the same level” as Messi during the official presentation for the 2020-21 La Liga season.

The ex-Cameroon international added: “Messi is like my son. He has stayed and so I’m happy. But the heart of this team needs more Barcelona-style players, players who are tiki-taka, not box to box.”

Messi, 33, made 44 appearances across all competitions last season and scored 31 times and registered 26 assists.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner will stay in Barcelona for another season after refusing to push ahead with a legal challenge against the club.

Hazard, meanwhile, spent his first season in La Liga after completing his sensational move from Chelsea to Madrid last summer.

However, the 29-year-old Belgian winger struggled to replicate his scintillating form in the Spanish league as he struggled with injuries.

Hazard was reduced to 22 appearances and scored only once and registered seven assists in all competitions.

During the presentation, Eto’o also tipped Sergio Busquets to return to top form and aid Barcelona in their La Liga title challenge.

And the former Barca star added that he wants to see former club Mallorca return to the top flight of Spanish football.

“Barcelona is going to be the next league champion, but I want Mallorca, the team of my heart, to return to the top tier,” he said.

“[I would like] to see a great [Sergio] Busquets at his best level again. When he is, Barcelona always win titles.”

source:- sportbible