Eden Hazard: Manchester City Will Regret Not Signing Star If Mancini Pulls out

It has recently been reported that Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has pulled out of the race to sign former French club Lille star Eden Hazard.

If the reports are true, Manchester City will look back on this and regret their decision to avoid the 21-year-old sensation. Despite the high price, the not-so-model attitude and the fiasco surrounding his decision, the Belgian international will do special things for his prospective team.

His potential to burn past defenders with relative ease is primarily what makes him such a hot commodity. Not just that he can beat his man off the ball, but that he can do so with no help from his teammates, as his ability to create for himself is matched only by the best in the Europe. He doesn't rely solely on his speed, either, as he is capable of changing direction quickly in close quarters while making the ball appear as if it is attached to his foot.

For all that is made of his attitude, he exhibited great poise while playing for Lille. When three of his fellow starters went down, Hazard decided he was going to take care of business on his own. He carried his team to the league title by netting seven goals and 10 assists for the Mastiffs. From what we've seen, even if Hazard can get a bit pouty off the field, he won't let that diminish his play on the pitch. In case you needed more evidence, he netted a hat trick in his final game with Lille despite the circus that he has been involved in recently.

His value doesn't end there, as he has become quite impressive in set pieces as of late. He's able to serve his teammates with such perfect passes because he is given the room to do so, as it is nearly impossible for defenders to play too close to him for fear of getting run by.

The best part about him is his age. He's only 21 and it would be crazy to believe that he has reached the apex of his career. He would be such a good fit with Manchester City because he'd be able to run free in their offensive formation. He's a wild card on the pitch and is most effective when given the opportunity to run freely around the field as opposed to being confined to a position.

Hazard might have issues with his playing time under Mancini. He might become upset that he is not the center of attention after signing with a squad laden with star-caliber talent. But he's so young, and so talented, that it would be absurd to pass up on him.