Snubbed: 35m Eden Hazard rejects Manchester United AND City to join Chelsea

Eden Hazard has turned his back on the Capital of Football to join Chelsea.

The 21-year-old Lille star looked set to be heading for Manchester next season with both United and City locked in a battle to sign the 35mmidfielder.

But the Belgian international has shocked both Sir AlexFerguson and Roberto Mancini by choosing the recently crowned Champions League winners Chelsea, who still dont have a permanent manager.

Belgian international Hazard last night ended weeks of specualtion over his future by Tweeting: Im signing for the Champions League winner.

It looked like City and United would extend their Premier League title battle into thesummer transfer window in the chase for Hazard.

Both Fergie and Mancini had been over to France towards to watch him in action for Lille.

Though both clubs have remained tight-lipped on the progress they were making to sign the coveted goalscoring engine-room player, it was widely reported hed agreed terms with both Manchester teams.

However, Chelsea came up on the rails because of their European Cup final triumph over Bayern Munich in Germany 11 days ago.

Hazardadmitted their stunning success in Munich had made him hesitate and it turned his attentions away from United and Premier League champions City.

Fergie had hoped the player would add flair and a scoring bite to his much-maligned midfield in a bid to keep the pressure on the Blues and also repair their European stature which was badly damaged by their earlyChampions League exit.

Mancini wanted to add Hazard to his squad with an eye on next season's Champions League campaign.

Hazard has been drip feeding teasing titbits about his future over the last few weeks.

Now he has finally ended ! the spec ulation by confirming his decision to switch to Stamford Bridge a huge gamble for the French Player of the Year as Chelsea have yet to name their permanent manager after caretaker Roberto di Matteo turned their season around.

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