"Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park has the best atmosphere in Europe" - Thorgan Hazard
He's played at the Amsterdam ArenA with Belgium, and has sampled the sights and sounds of Barcelona's Camp Nou and the Juventus Stadium in Turin with Borussia Mönchengladbach, but Borussia Dortmund summer signing Thorgan Hazard says he has never experienced anything quite like his new home, the Signal Iduna Park.
Hazard recently put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Dortmund, following five years with Gladbach.
Although the 26-year-old admits he doesn't have the fondest memories of his previous trips to Dortmund as a Gladbach player - five defeats by an aggregate score of 17-3 - he is relishing the prospect of stepping out onto the pitch at Germany's largest stadium in a black-and-yellow shirt.
"So far, I don't have good memories of this stadium - I think I've always lost here," Hazard told BVB tv. "Now I hope that changes.
"The atmosphere, with so many fans… I think it's the best in Europe."
Watch: Discover the allure and enchantment of the Signal Iduna Park
With a capacity crowd of 81,365 and as the home of Europe's largest standing terrace, 'The Yellow Wall', the Signal Iduna Park is a unique phenomenon that brings pride to the people who stand within its embrace and gives goosebumps to those looking in from the outside - but it is not the only reason Hazard swapped Gladbach for Dortmund.
"Dortmund is just a massive club, with great fans and a great team," the Belgium international enthused.
He also says the chance to be reunited with Lucien Favre - the man who brought him to Germany from Chelsea whilst in charge of Gladbach, as well as the prospect of winning silverware were simply too good to turn down.
"I know the coach, we worked together at Borussia Mönchengladbach. So I'm very happy to be here, and I hope we can win titles together.
"The DFB Cup or the Bundesliga, I know the fans would like that a lot."
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Hazard, who registered 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances in his final season at Gladbach, will have the opportunity to claim a first senior career title when Dortmund host double-winners Bayern Munich in the season-opening 2019 Supercup on 3 August.
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