Manchester United reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign Eden Hazard in 2012 after his then-agent, John Bico, demanded undisclosed payments, according to a new report more than a decade later.
At the time, Hazard was one of Europe’s most sought-after talents, having just guided Lille to a historic league and cup double in 2010/11. Major clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Manchester United, were chasing the Belgian winger.
United, under Sir Alex Ferguson, had supposedly agreed both a transfer fee with Lille and personal terms with Hazard. However, The Times has now revealed that negotiations collapsed when Bico allegedly requested £1 million directly from the club, along with several million more from United’s owners — demands that would have been hidden from the club’s official records.
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Deeming the request a clear violation of Premier League and UEFA rules, United walked away from the deal.
There is no indication that Hazard was aware of his agent’s actions. Bico, who represented Hazard until 2014, has since been extradited from the UAE to Belgium in a separate financial crimes case.
While United distanced themselves from the saga, Chelsea stepped in and secured Hazard’s signature — a move that became foundational to their success throughout the 2010s. The Blues later sold him to Real Madrid in 2019 for up to €146 million, nearly tripling their investment.
However, the transfer is now part of a broader Premier League investigation into potential financial misconduct under Chelsea’s previous ownership. Current owner Todd Boehly’s consortium flagged possible irregularities — including a reported £6 million payment to Bico through an offshore entity — after taking over from Roman Abramovich in 2022.
Chelsea are also being scrutinized over offshore payments tied to other transfers from the same period, including those of Samuel Eto’o and Willian.
