Hazard offered himself to Real Madrid before the Champions League final

Los Blancos see him as alternative to Neymar

Posted Monday, June 25, 2018 by Marca.com

It has been no secret that Chelsea's Eden Hazard would consider a move to Real Madrid.

The Belgian international may be at the World Cup with his country, but he has made his desires clear.

"Real Madrid could interest me, everyone knows it, if they want me they know what they have to do," were his words to L'Equipe.

"If I have a good World Cup, things will be easier, but going to Madrid for the sake of it, no.

"Saying 'I'm off' would be too easy, that's why first I want to see what happens to Chelsea next season."

Days before the Champions League final, his father Thierry Hazard made contact with Real Madrid to offer them the chance to sign the forward.

He explained that talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge were on hold because Eden thinks the time has come to move on with no Champions League football in west London next season.

"Eden rejected extending his contract with Chelsea so that, when it comes, he can consider the interest of Real Madrid, where he'd fit in well," Thierry told Le Soir only a few months ago.

With two goals in as many games, Hazard has been one of the shining stars of the World Cup in Russia having come on leaps and bounds from when Zinedine Zidane was watching him at Lille under the orders of Florentino Perez six years ago.

Zidane picked out Raphael Varane and Hazard as the two players to make sure they didn't miss out on, and ever since Hazard has been linked.

The departure of Zidane doesn't affect the chances of signing the Belgian, who is being considered as an alternative if the club cannot sign Neymar this summer, with his price tag set at 120 million euros.

At 27, and having won two Premier League titles, a Europa League and an FA Cup, Hazard is ready for a change of scenery.

He's looking for a style of football that suits him and a coach who will try to exploit his talents, after growing frustrated under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

That's why he is prepared to reject 340,000 pounds a week.

The fact that Chelsea are not involved in the Champions League next season is another key factor, given that one of his sponsorship contracts is directly linked to participating in the Champions League.

Despite all that, the Belgian's priorities for such a move are sporting rather than financial.

Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on Hazard's progress in Russia, even if his position is one that is already congested with Isco, Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale.

Whether Neymar comes or not and whether Bale stays or goes could impact the likelihood of the Chelsea No.10 arriving at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.