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Just a quick note on Chelsea's apparent acquisition of Eden Hazard. The positives for fantasy managers and Chelsea supporters are obvious but how about the implications for Belgians? Chelsea has quietly started cornering the market on non-Vincent Kompany and non-Thomas Vermaelen Belgians. Assuming Hazard does sign on the dotted line that gives Chelsea Hazard (Belgium's best player), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium's up and coming 'keeper), Romelu Lukaku (Belgium's up and coming Drogba clone), and Kevin de Bruyne (an up-and-coming Belgian AM/RM). Chelsea do need another Center Back so why NOT the highly sought-after Vertonghen? Then they could do a group purchase along with the Belgian National Team and just hire one manager to manage the players during both their club and country exploits.
Seriously though, with this having the potential to be Belgium's "golden generation" Chelsea will have a great deal of say in how these key players develop and how well rested/preserved they are for international competitions.
Personally, I am in the interesting position of not rooting for Chelsea but having at least the beginnings of positive feelings for the Belgium side (I don't know why, I just feel like I'm going to enjoy the ride with them even if Eden Hazard seems to be on a one-man mission to make them unlikable). Will I start pulling for Chelsea a little bit out of positive feelings for the Belgium contingent? Will I like Belgium less for their Chelsea affiliation? Hard to say how this sort of emotional thing will play out but it will certainly be interesting to see how it unfolds for Chelsea, Belgium, and me.