Forward Eden Hazard has been linked to Real Madrid for several years already, and the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus may just provide the perfect time and space for the Belgian to finally make the move. Perhaps his teammate for both club and country, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, could be joining him.
After helping guide Belgium to a third place finish in the 2018 World Cup, the highest in the nation’s history, Hazard made comments on Saturday that indicated he was ready to leave Chelsea. It was rather overt, and most observers, pundits and analysts read it as a call to Real Madrid to come and get him.
“After six wonderful years at Chelsea it might be time to discover something different,” said the man who finished runner-up in Golden Ball voting to Croatia’s Luka Modric in Russia.
“Certainly after this World Cup. I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will make the final decision — if they want to let me go. You know my preferred destination.”
Courtois, who came to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid, has often publicly pined for a return to the Spanish capital, where he has children.
Fresh off an elite performance that yielded him the World Cup’s Golden Gloves award, his stock is very high, and contract extension talks with Chelsea have stalled.
Apparently, Stamford Bridge aren’t prepared to meet his reported wage demands. Real Madrid are preparing an ambitious bid for the Chelsea/Belgium duo that would reach an amount of more than €250 million, according to Belgian outlet HLN.
The current European champions three times running will offer €225 million for Hazard and over €30 million for Courtois.
The Daily Mail reported an upcoming bid of £150 million by Madrid for Hazard.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez believes the time could be right for Hazard to now move on.
“It could be the best time (for Eden Hazard) to try something different,” Martinez told Cadena Ser when he was asked if Hazard could fit in at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is a player who has maturity and a lot of leadership. His play is based on talent. Hazard could carry a new project anywhere in the world. He is at the best moment of his career. For me, it’s very easy to answer that question.”
Martinez continued: “He could fit in any team in the world. Players need new challenges and new projects. Perhaps it’s a good time for (Chelsea) and for Eden (to part ways). I would be very surprised if Chelsea didn’t have big offers for him right now.”
It remains to be seen who would replace Hazard at Stamford Bridge, but the replacement for Courtois has already been lined up, reportedly.
According to Sky Sport Italia, translated by Metro, Chelsea are willing to break the world transfer fee record for a goalkeeper in order to acquire AS Roma shot stopper Alisson Becker. The Brazilian, who has been linked to Liverpool and Real Madrid this summer is likely to be worth about £62 million.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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