CHELSEA’S Eden Hazard said that he wants to leave the club for Real Madrid, with the Spaniards ready to make a possible 200-million-pound (US$264 million) bid for him. On the day that new manager Maurizio Sarri took over at Stamford Bridge, Hazard emerged from helping Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup third-place match to say that he wanted no part in the future the Italian had mapped out. Hazard, who has two years left on his contract, said: “I have spent six years with Chelsea. I played a fantastic World Cup, so it’s maybe time to change something. Chelsea will make the final decision — if they want to let me go, you know my preferred destination. After six wonderful years at Chelsea it might be time to discover something different. “It’s not my decision, so now I just want to go on holiday and see what happens.” It is understood that Hazard will not fight to leave Chelsea and if they attempt to keep him, he may stay. But Real, the European champion, may be willing to break the world transfer record, as the side looks to rebuild after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. Hazard’s recent form has impressed them. He was strong during Belgium’s World Cup, scoring the second goal against England. But the midfielder, who came close to joining Real in 2017, did fade during the semifinal loss to France. (SD-Agencies) |