With the 2018-19 football season reaching its climactic conclusion in the coming weeks, Chelsea Football Club remain within touching distance of both a top-four finish and European glory in Maurizio Sarri’s first season at Stamford Bridge. Thus, although there is still much for the London-based club to be optimistic about, the future of their biggest star, Eden Hazard, continues to haunt supporters through weeks of unrivalled uncertainty.
Drawing the Attentions of Real Madrid
The Belgian superstar has long caught the eye of Spanish giants, Real Madrid, and it appears that the 33-time title-winning side could be about to make their move for the 28-year-old winger. With speculation only on the rise surrounding the future of the 2014-15 Player of the Year, it is believed that Los Blancos have made an initial approach for Hazard in their desire to overhaul their existing squad. Hazard has long mentioned Real Madrid’s manager, Zinedine Zidane, as one of his idols and has seemingly seen his resolve to move to Madrid strengthened by the return of the three-time Champions League-winning manager to the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Chelsea winger has contributed 15 goals and seven assists this season across 1,940 minutes, which is far more than Madrid’s Gareth Bale, who has scored only seven goals and provided two assists over the course of his 1,141 La Liga minutes. From a statistical return standpoint, it comes as no surprise that Zidane wishes to add one more ‘galactico’ to the Madrid ranks.
Remaining at the Bridge
Although the former Premier League Player of the Year is catching the eye of many of Europe’s top clubs, the Belgian is not ruling out the possibility of staying with Chelsea beyond this season with the London club now 4/1 to finish in the Premier League top four.
Following the Blues’ 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United last time out in the Premier League, Hazard declared that his primary aim is to ensure that Chelsea secure qualification for next season’s Champions League as Sarri’s side is “one of the biggest clubs in the world”. Hazard went on to express his desire to return to the top level of domestic football before stating that “we will” be in the Champion’s League next season when discussing what the future holds for both he and Chelsea.
Only Time Will Tell
Whilst the season may be drawing to a close, the lack of clarity over the Belgian’s future is not. In the midst of the immense speculation, however, the 28-year-old has recently been pictured launching Chelsea’s new 2019-20 home kit which has only heightened the uncertainty over where Hazard will play his football next season. Although this marketing tactic can often mean very little, it certainly offers Chelsea supporters a glimmer of hope that their talisman will see out his contract at Stamford Bridge and pass on the advances of Real Madrid for another season.