Azerbaijan-based Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Addai has revealed that former Chelsea star Eden Hazard was his biggest football inspiration growing up, crediting the Belgian winger for influencing his playing style.
Despite being a passionate Liverpool supporter, Addai admitted he closely followed Hazard’s performances and studied his qualities on the pitch.
“Hazard was the player I watched the most. He may not look flashy at first glance, but his speed, dribbling, strength and power stood out. I try to learn from him,” he told 3Sports.
The 24-year-old also named Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário, a two-time World Cup winner, as another major influence on his development, even though he never watched him play live.
“Growing up, Hazard was my favourite, but deep down I also admired Ronaldo Nazário. I didn’t watch him live, but I learned a lot from watching his videos,” he added.
Addai further highlighted the impact of African stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, whose success at Liverpool motivated him to believe African players can reach the highest level.
“I wouldn’t say I idolised Salah exactly, but as a Liverpool fan I enjoyed what he and Mané were doing. They inspired me to believe that as an African, you can also play for Liverpool one day,” he said.
The forward is currently enjoying a solid season with Qarabag, having scored four goals across all competitions so far.
