As the opening of the World Cup tournament drew closer, Belgium and Chelsea star Eden Hazard made it known that he wants clarity on his club’s managerial situation. That clarity still hasn’t come yet, but reports indicate that Maurizio Sarri is set to replace Antonio Conte as Blues boss.
As Belgium’s World Cup opening match drew closer (we’re minutes away from their kick-off against Panama in group play), the 27-year-old gave some clarity about his own club future. Eden Hazard put Chelsea on notice, telling the world what he demands of his current club. At the same time he also gave a very strong signal, and obvious green light, to Real Madrid.
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“If I stay, it’s for the team to be better than it was than in the season we have just gone through,” Hazardย said to French publication L’Equipe in regards to his future.
“I don’t want to stay for it to be worse. I have won everything in London other than the Champions League. If I’m in this position in my career, it’s thanks to Chelsea.”
“It would be too easy to say I want to leave because I’ve done everything here. That’s why, above all else, I would like to know what will happen at the club next year. I am waiting to see if the coach stays or leaves.”
Chelsea finished fifth this past season, and are now relegated to the Europa League in 2018-19. Hazard has been consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid over the past few years, so much so that it’s a transfer narrative among the most tedious.
Given how Real just won their third straight Champions League title, and four of the last five, when Hazard says he wants to win the Champions League, one can easily imply what’s being inferred in that statement and it’s basically “Madrid come and get me.”
With his next set of statements, Hazard then made his interest in potentially joining Los Blancos completely overt.
“Real Madrid could interest me, everyone knows that, but if tomorrow that club doesn’t want me anymore, we won’t talk about it again. If they want to buy me, they know what they have to do,” Eden Hazard added.
“Going there for going there’s sake, no. There has to be a project. I still have a project with Chelsea. If I have a good World Cup, things will be easier.”
Contract extension talks with Chelsea have broken down, and the Belgian’s deal expires in 2020.
In terms of the Chelsea managerial situation, change is reportedly being held up by Conte’s refusal to walk away, and lose out on the final ยฃ9 million that he is owed. The club’s lack of desire to pay him that amount, reportedly, is what’s keeping the Bridge from sacking him.
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.netย and TheBank.News, which is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.comย andย Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly toย WGN CLTV andย Chicago Now.
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