If recent reports from Spain are to be believed, then La Liga defending champions Real Madrid are determined to lure Chelsea’s Eden Hazard to Santiago Bernabeu this summer. The Belgian international has been Chelsea’s main player for quite some time now and the Blues are unwilling to let go of him no matter what.
Manager Antonio Conte has clearly rejected it as a speculation. When asked about it, the Italian said, “I don’t know anything about this situation. In the past, I read a lot of stories about [Hazard going to] Real Madrid and now there is Barcelona. This is the transfer market and we must understand this. Will Hazard stay with us? Yes. He is very happy to stay with us and to play for Chelsea.”
The Blues have started their title-defending season in the worst way possible on Saturday as a nine-men side went down to a shockingly confident Burnley. The Clarets hardly won a game away from home last season but Conte’s men were taken by real surprise when they scored three first half goals at Stamford Bridge to take the game beyond Chelsea’s reach.
The early red card to Gary Cahill and a late double booking for central midfielder Cesc Fabregas didn’t help their cause either. Eden Hazard and Pedro missed the game with injuries and the Belgian’s sale will be the last thing on earth that Chelsea would want right now.
With Real Madrid hot on Kylian Mbappe’s heels, Hazard was definitely not the first choice for Los Blancos. However, Ligue 1 defending champions AS Monaco aren’t likely to let go one of their best player that easily and following the sale of Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and others this summer, they have priced Mbappe at something in the region of £165 million if they are to part ways with, at all.
And given the young age and inexperience of the French sensation, Real aren’t willing to risk such a huge amount just now. Hazard, on the other hand, is a proven option from the attacking midfield and is a better option than Mbappe for a cheaper price.
Cristiano Ronaldo could already be in his last season with Real. Zinedine Zidane had used him quite judiciously last season, aware of his ageing muscles and inability to play week in week out. He knows the time has come for someone to take his place without disrupting the productivity and Hazard look like an ideal fit.
Since arriving from French side Lille back in 2012, the Belgian international has scored 72 goals and picked up 62 assists over the past five seasons, playing 249 games so far.
