Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri reacts to Thibaut Courtois' Real Madrid plea over Eden Hazard

Posted Saturday, August 11, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri reacts to Thibaut Courtois' Real Madrid plea over Eden Hazard
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says Eden Hazard won't follow Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid (Image: GETTY)

CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri insists it is "impossible" that the Blues will let Eden Hazard leave for Real Madrid this summer despite Thibaut Courtois trying to persuade him to join.

Courtois finally sealed his dream move to the Bernabeu this week after months of refusing to sign a new deal.

Eden Hazard is also yet to put pen to paper on a new contract with Chelsea and remains linked with a switch to the European champions.

Following Courtois' switch to La Liga, the Belgian urged his international team-mate to join him.

The shot-stopper said: "He's a wonderful player.

"I'd love to play alongside him again and we'll have to see what happens in the future.

"If he ends up here one day that would be brilliant."

But Sarri is confident the Belgian winger, whose current deal with the Blues runs until 2020, won't follow Courtois out the door before the La Liga transfer window closes on August 31.

"It is impossible. The market is closed for us," Sarri said on the likelihood of Hazard leaving.

On Courtois' comments, the Italian boss added: "I don't know.

"I think there were some personal reasons, so I cannot go on personal reasons. Hazard is with us.

"It is not a problem, I have spoken with his three or four times. He never said anything about the market. He is happy to stay here."

Chelsea are keen to tie Hazard down to a new long-term deal but Sarri refused to go into detail about the ongoing discussions.

"No I don't want to discuss contracts," Sarri said ahead of Chelsea's clash with Huddersfield tomorrow.

"It is not my job. It is to improve players, not sign contracts. I have seen a player happy to be here."

While Sarri believes Hazard won't be leaving he does acknowledge some players will be loaned out before the end of the month.

With Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic both arriving in west London this summer, Tiemoue Bakayoko is likely to be the first casualty with widespread reports linking him with a move to Milan.

"Now I think the squad is too large," Sarri added.

"So I think some players have to go on loan but I don't know who at the moment.

"I prefer to have 23 or 24 players.

"Maybe (Bakayoko) you have to ask the club in that moment."

Kovacic, Jorginho and £72m summer signing Kepa Arrizabalaga could all make their Chelsea debuts when they visit the Kirklees Stadium.